North East Tenders for Trades: How to Find, Qualify For and Win Local Work

If you’ve ever opened a tender portal, blinked twice and thought “I do not have time for this”, you’re exactly who we’re for.

Quick answers

• What is a tender? A formal request for quotes where you submit pricing and evidence, then get scored against set criteria.
• Who posts North East tenders? Councils, housing providers, NHS and public bodies, plus bigger contractors and frameworks.
• What wins? Clear method, proof you can deliver, sensible pricing, strong resident comms and simple evidence.
• Fastest way to improve results? Build a reusable “bid pack” so you’re not starting from scratch every time.

Who this is for

• Trades and contractors across the North East who want more commercial and public sector work
• One person businesses and small teams who can’t spend evenings wrestling portal forms
• Anyone who wants to bid smarter, not bid more

What a tender usually looks like

Most tenders ask for a mix of:

• Price (schedule of rates, fixed price, day rates, or a mix)
• Method statement (how you’ll deliver the work safely and consistently)
• Evidence (insurances, policies, accreditations, case studies, references)
• Quality (QA process, reporting, snagging, handover)
• Service (response times, resident comms, availability, aftercare)

Where North East opportunities appear

You’ll typically see tenders through:

• Public sector procurement portals (councils, NHS, housing and education)
• Frameworks and DPS (approved supplier lists where mini competitions happen)
• Main contractors looking for reliable subbies for planned works and refurbs
• Housing associations and managing agents for compliance, voids and cyclical works

Top tip: don’t chase everything. Chase the work that matches your size, your travel radius and your evidence.

The 10-minute “is this worth bidding?” test

• Location: Can you realistically cover it without burning fuel and time?
• Contract type: Planned works, reactive, compliance, servicing, minor works. Which are you built for?
• Value and volume: Is it worth the admin, or is it tiny with big paperwork?
• Requirements: Do you meet the essentials (insurance, policies, experience)?
• Timeline: Can you deliver within the start date and SLA expectations?

Your “bid pack” checklist

Build this once, then reuse it. It saves hours.

• Public liability, employers’ liability, professional indemnity (if relevant)
• H&S policy, risk assessment templates, RAMS format
• Company profile and core team CVs
• 3 short case studies (before/after photos, scope, outcome, timescales)
• References (named, contactable, recent)
• Quality process (snagging, inspections, reporting)
• Resident or customer communications approach
• Environmental approach (waste, recycling, low emissions travel where possible)

Optional download idea: “Tender Readiness Pack (North East trades)” PDF you can link here.

How scoring works (and how to play it)

• Answer the question asked and match their headings. Don’t freestyle.
• Use evidence (numbers, examples, references) not vibes.
• Make it easy to mark with bullet points, short paragraphs and clear subheadings.
• Show control of quality, timescales, subcontractors and reporting.
• Be realistic on capacity and response times. Overpromising loses contracts.

Common reasons bids fail

• Missing documents or outdated insurances
• Copy and paste answers that don’t fit the question
• Weak method statement, no detail on how you’ll manage risks
• Pricing that’s vague, full of exclusions, or doesn’t match the schedule
• No proof of similar work

Ready to stop trawling portals?

Top Tenders sends North East tender opportunities to trades, minus the portal headache.

• Handpicked opportunities
• Plain English summaries
• Only the stuff worth your time

FAQs

• Do I need loads of accreditations? Not always. Many buyers score heavily on method and evidence of delivery, then check compliance basics.
• Can small firms win? Yes, especially on lots, minor works, reactive work, local frameworks and DPS.
• Should I bid for everything? No. Bid for the right work and make it excellent.