Billions of pounds in public sector construction work goes to a small number of large contractors every year — but the Procurement Act 2023 and the push to award more to SMEs are changing the picture. Here’s how smaller firms can compete.
Get onto the right frameworks
Frameworks and dynamic purchasing systems (now dynamic markets) are the gateway to repeat public work. Being pre-qualified means you can bid on call-off contracts quickly without repeating the same due-diligence paperwork each time.
Win on quality, not just price
Most construction tenders are scored on a quality/price split. SMEs that document their method statements, health and safety record, local supply chain and social value clearly can beat larger firms who submit generic, copy-paste responses. Precision and evidence win marks.