Invitation for proposals to deliver training in negotiation and persuasion

Invitation for proposals to deliver training in negotiation and persuasion

This invitation can also be downloaded as a pdf here.

Introduction

The Archives and Records Association (ARA) is the UK and Republic of Ireland’s lead professional membership body for archivists, records-managers and archive conservators. ARA promotes continuing professional development and professional standards, encourages innovation in the sector with a range of partners locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. Its membership work across the public, private and voluntary sectors.

Negotiation and persuasion training

Skills surveys have identified a need for training to support those who manage archive services. We know that those new to managing archive services would benefit from training and insights to help them quickly develop the skills and strategies needed to negotiate successfully and persuade with confidence. We also know that experienced archive service managers would like to improve their negotiation and persuasion skills, potentially through benchmarking themselves against the strategies, approaches and techniques provided by the negotiation and persuasion training.

We want to help archive service managers negotiate better outcomes with commercial partners, and service level agreements for shared services. We also want to help them build a case for better internal resourcing. Therefore, there are three key topics that the training should cover:

1.       Negotiate contracts with commercial partners

Key learning outcomes:

  • Successfully negotiate commercial contracts (for example, Preservica, Ancestry, etc)

  • Learn valuable context-specific negotiation techniques and strategies

  • Increase/maximise income streams

  • A basic understand businesses structures and how businesses operate commercially.

  • An understanding of the commercial mindset

  • Understanding risks involved

2.       Negotiating service level agreements for shared services.

Key learning outcomes:

  • Successfully negotiate service level agreements

  • Learn valuable context-specific negotiation techniques and strategies

  • Basic understanding of business structures and how governance works

  • Understanding risks involved

3.       Building a case for better resources

Learning outcomes:

  • How to successfully build a case for resourcing

  • Develop the communication skills needed to advocate and negotiate with senior managers/Boards

  • Understanding of what motivates/interests councillors

  • Learn valuable context-specific negotiation techniques and strategies

  • Understanding risks involved

Delivery of training

The content of the training must reflect the context and realities of managing a public sector archive service. It should be appropriate to the level of professional knowledge and experience required of service managers. It should also consider the time restrictions facing services managers, enabling them to quickly understand the key issues and learning as presented by the contractor.

Delegates can source their own additional learning if required. The contractor may wish to consider signposting to additional sources of learning.

Our preference is for the training to be delivered as a series of short, recorded webinars supported written guidance, possibly in the form of brief notes or checklists, to help embed learning. Proposals are welcome to consider other approaches.

Webinars should be supplied as MP4 files and written documents as Word documents.

The project with start mid-January 2025. The training materials should be delivered by 31st March 2025

Budget

The budget for this project is £7000 (including VAT)

Skills, experience and methodology 

Your submission should provide: 

  1. The CV of principal consultant and any associates supporting the project. 

  2. Evidence of knowledge of archival and records management practice. 

  3. Evidence of knowledge of contextual challenges facing public sector archives and archival services 

  4. The methodology used to develop the training content

Informal Enquiries

Please contact chris.sheridan@archives.org.uk

Closing date

Please submit your proposal by Tuesday 31st December 2024 

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