The public sector in the UK includes local councils, the health service, emergency services and organisations providing further and higher education; for example. Each area of the public sector has a significant budget to buy any goods and services that are needed.

Almost all businesses (new and established) have the opportunity to win work with the public sector through a contract notice known as an ‘open tender’.

If your business is relatively small in size, this doesn’t mean you won’t be able to compete with larger businesses to win a contract to deliver goods or services. 

Why supply the public sector?

Supplying to a public sector organisation has many benefits, which include:

  • helping to guarantee work (which could help your business to grow)
  • minimal risk (public sector organisations work to guidelines to ensure they are fair, open and honest with suppliers)
  • prompt payments (which can help your business from a cash flow perspective)
  • enhancing prospective clients’ perception of your business

Find public sector tender opportunities and contracts

If you would like to win work with the public sector in Wales you can identify opportunities on the Sell2Wales contracts portal. Here you can also register to be sent tender opportunities of interest as they become available.

Sell2Wales (external link)

Our procurement department manages contracts awarded by Wrexham County Council. Email: procurement@wrexham.gov.uk  

UK Government portals

GOV.UK: Contracts Finder
Search for contracts worth over £12,000 (including VAT) with the government and its agencies.
GOV.UK: Find a Tender
Search and apply for high value contracts in the UK’s public and utilities sectors.
GOV.UK: Crown Commercial Service
The largest public procurement organisation in the UK, providing common goods and service to buyers in central government and across the public and third sectors.
GOV.UK: About procurement at Defra (external link)
Guidance on purchasing arrangements at the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs and information for those looking to become a supplier or contractor.
GOV.UK: Ministry of Defence (external link)
Guidance for those who want to become a Defence Supplier.

Regional portals (outside of Wales)

Supplying the South West (external link)
Advertises open tenders and quotation opportunities for councils in the South West.
South East Business Portal (external link)
Upcoming contract opportunities with councils in the South East.
The Chest (North West of England) (external link)
Find business opportunities with local authorities in the North West.
Nepo - North East Procurement Organisation (external link)
Works with North East local authorities and the wider public sector to procure a wide range of goods and services.
East Mids Tenders (external link)
Find opportunities to supply public sector organisations in the East Midlands, as well as country-wide.
London Tenders Portal (external link)
Public sector procurement portal for a number of London boroughs.
Public Contracts Scotland (external link)
By law, all Scottish public sector bodies must advertise all regulated procurements via PCS.
eTendersNI (external link)
Advertises opportunities for providing goods, services and works to Northern Ireland government department, agencies and arms-length bodies.

Sector-specific portals

Small Business Research Initiative (external link)
Offers organisations the opportunity to work directly with the public sector to develop new technologies and processes, helping to meet efficiency targets and improving public services.
in-tend: Further Education Colleges e-tendering (external link)
Lists contracts and tender opportunities with further education colleges.
Constructionline (external link)
A national online portal providing access to a wide range of construction procurement contracts and projects.
Bluelight eTendering (external link)
Tender opportunities for the police and fire and rescue services.
NHS Supply Chain (external link)
Lists opportunities to supply healthcare products, services and food for NHS trusts and healthcare organisations across England and Wales.
GOV.UK: The Legal Aid Agency (external link)
Find out how to tender for legal aid contracts in crime, civil legal advice and telephone advice.

Other contract portals

There are a number of independent commercial services that collate public sector contract opportunities. Examples include:

myTenders (external link)
Tenders Direct (external link)
‘UK’s most accurate tender alert service’
Tracker (external link)
Designed for businesses that are already working with the public sector and are looking to grow their share of the public sector market.
ProContract (external link)

Tendering support

Business Wales: advice/support on tendering and the supply chain (external link)
GOV.UK: How to effectively bid for government contracts as an SME (external link)