The BidSquirrel guides
Win UK public contracts
Practical, current guides to finding and winning public sector work - written for time-poor small businesses, grounded in the Procurement Act 2023 regime.
Start here
How to win public sector contracts
The cornerstone guide: finding the right tenders, qualifying fast, and writing answers that score - end to end.
Read the guideBrowse by topic
Never bid before? Start here
The orientation guides for a firm weighing up public work for the first time.
- Can a Small Business Win Government Contracts?Yes - and the rules now favour you. How UK small businesses win government and council contracts, the myths that hold firms back, and where to start.
- Public vs Private Sector Tendering: What ChangesHow public and private sector tendering differ for a UK SME: regulated PA23 scoresheets and standstill rights vs discretionary, relationship-led private buying.
- How a Small Construction Firm Wins Public WorkHow small builders and trades win public-sector construction work: the council, housing and schools pipeline, and where an SME starts.
- How to Win Public Sector Electrical ContractsA guide for electrical contractors: where public-sector electrical work is, the NICEIC/NAPIT and compliance gates buyers screen on, and how to win steady work.
- How to Win Public Sector Cleaning ContractsA guide for cleaning firms: where public-sector cleaning contracts are, what buyers score, and how TUPE and accreditations affect your bid.
- How to Win Public Sector FM ContractsA guide for facilities management firms: the public-sector FM pipeline, hard vs soft and total FM, what buyers score, TUPE and frameworks, and how to win it.
More from BidSquirrel
Browse live tenders by sector
Each guide above pairs with a sector hub showing the live work in that trade. Pick yours:
Tenders for construction & tradesTenders for fm & cleaningTenders for it & digitalTenders for professional servicesTenders for health & social careTenders for catering & suppliesTenders for securityTenders for transportTenders for wasteTenders for groundsTenders for electricalTenders for plumbing & heating