One-on-one personalised writing support for ERC Proof of Concept grant applications

We care about the individuals that we support - each one of them different - and for each, we offer a personal, individually tailored and educationally focussed journey of ERC grant writing.

We offer services through all stages of the ERC PoC proposal development and writing process.

We are highly experienced working with all panels and all areas of research.

Preparing for an ERC PoC grant is a challenging and time consuming process - on top of the everyday challenges of academic life. Our focus is on making this process as enjoyable and as stress free as possible - for all individuals that we work with.

A hallmark of the way in which we work with applicants is the numerous interactions throughout the support process - allowing for a fully personalised trajectory for each applicant that we support.

SERVICE OPTIONS INCLUDE:

• Full proposal Writing (Support, Mentoring and Coaching in Writing the proposal draft) 

• Truncated support: Critical review and coaching support for advanced drafts or fully written drafts

• Resubmission Support

PROPOSAL WRITING (SUPPORT, MENTORING AND COACHING IN WRITING THE PROPOSAL DRAFT):
Here, we work with applicants who already have a developed proposal concept.

• Concept expansion prior to the commencement of the writing, thereby creating the foundation for the full PoC proposal content.

• Coaching and mentoring on drafting the proposal document.

• Critical support, feedback and in-depth review of drafts.

• Substantive editing of the proposal (for clarity, consistency, flow, tone of voice).

TRUNCATED WRITING SUPPORT: CRITICAL REVIEW OF ADVANCED OR FULLY WRITTEN DRAFTS.
Here, we work with applicants closer to the deadline and review a fully written draft of the proposal.

This form of support is fully tailored to each individual situation, according to the stage that the draft is in when applicants come to us for review, the timeline needing to be worked to before the submission date.

THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR SUPPORT

• Our feedback on drafts is highly personalised, in-depth, direct and to the point, and should we identify weaknesses in a proposal, we will always work at providing the applicant with suggestions and/or options as to how the weakness can be remedied.

• When any of our clients interact with us, they will find us to be down to earth and approachable professionals, who have a real passion for what we do, and we understand and appreciate how busy the life of an academic can be.

• All of our work is based on a strong process-driven foundation.

• We believe in honesty and transparency, and in building strong and healthy relationships with our clients.

METHOD OF DELIVERY
Our method of delivery is via (1) personal ‘one-on-one’ online coaching and feedback sessions; and (2) online via email. The breakdown of this is individually tailored to each individual (some applicants may find online meetings more helpful, whilst others may have more of a preference for working more though email.

WHO WILL APPLICANTS BE WORKING WITH
You will work directly with either Fire Sanders or Willem Bouma, both qualified and highly experienced senior trainers. Both Willem and Fire have experience working with all panels and areas of research, and have worked with numerous applicants and institutions throughout around Europe and beyond. 

We have over 15 years (specifically) working on European, Dutch, German, Swiss and other national research grant proposals - and over 25 years experience with scientific promotion cases, research grant applications, interview training, review and editing of high impact research journal articles and writing nominations for prestigious prizes and awards. We specialise in what we do and offer – and ERC grant writing is no exception.