We've previously discussed the issue that you shouldn't approach any tenders that your business isn't truly able to able to deliver on. We recommended that you take an objective look at your business, identify where the strengths and weaknesses are, and only enter into tenders that utilise your strengths until you have had time to work on your weaknesses.

There is also another alternative: joining forces with another business that succeeds, where you fall short. 

Joint ventures are far from unknown in the world of tendering. It makes sense that there will be big contracts out there that smaller businesses can not handle alone, but that they can more than manage if they are able to come to some working agreement with another business.  Therefore, joint ventures are a way of increasing the winning chances for smaller businesses.

However, we wouldn't recommend entering into a joint venture lightly. Partnerships are always going to be difficult, especially between businesses, simply because each business will have its own aims, its own way of working and its own end game for any project. 

Before entering into any kind of formal agreement with another business about joining forces to tackle a large tender opportunity, you should consider the following:

• Choose a partner that you can really trust, and have perhaps already worked with before and work together because you want to work together.
• Don't be naive - draw up contracts outlining the conditions of the partnership and what each business is to offer, and receive from the partnership (it helps to have set boundaries for roles and responsibilities) 
• Try and partner with a company roughly the same size as you, things might become difficult if you partner with a much bigger business
• Look for a business that compliments what you do, but offers different services and skills - approaching a company too similar to your own is no use to anyone

Tendering can be difficult for smaller businesses, who lose out on bigger contracts to bigger companies, but joint ventures are one way to get around filling in your skill gaps and presenting a stronger tender bid.