Private Sector Tenders

Procurement Opportunities and Tenders in the Private Sector

Thornton & Lowe specialise in bid writing and bid management and can support businesses through the procurement process, including private sector bid opportunities. Private sector tenders can be difficult to source and even tougher to win! This article explains the difference between public and private sector tenders and focuses on how to:

• Find private tenders
  
• Bidding for private sector tenders
• Formal private sector tender opportunities
• Key private sector tender portals and procurement systems used in the UK

Whenever possible, we have embedded the direct link to buyers private sector tender portal or new supplier registration area.

Procurement Process in the Private Sector

This is a list of the 6 key steps in the procurement process for the private sector, alongside how businesses can prepare and best engage with these steps to maximise their win rates!

1. Needs Recognition: Suppliers can engage in relationship development with potential clients to gain insights into their challenges and requirements. By maintaining open communication and networking within the industry, suppliers can better understand the specific needs of organisations, allowing them to tailor their offerings accordingly.
2. Market Research: You need to be found! Think SEO, ads, relevant industry lists. And / or you need to ensure the private sector buyer knows your business and understands your offer through the marketing mix and sales efforts.
3. Preparation of Tender Documents: A bid library and templates can help save a lot of time and energy, allowing you time to focus on ensuring the solution is perfect, rather than having to chase evidence.
4. Supplier Selection: Understanding the key expectations and accreditations in your industry is really important and can save you a lot of time. Bidders can improve their chances during the selection process ensuring they have these in place and filed in an order which is easy to access. In addition, building a strong portfolio showcasing previous successful projects and client testimonials is further way to PASS this stage efficiently.
5. Contract Negotiation: Suppliers should prepare for negotiations by understanding their own limits and the client's needs. Being flexible and open to compromise will help a positive relationship with the client and lead to mutually beneficial agreements. Ultimately helping you win more private sector tenders!
6. Contract Management: After winning the tender, or getting onto the approved list, suppliers should establish a contract management framework to ensure compliance and performance. By being proactive and responsive, suppliers can demonstrate their commitment and reliability, paving the way for future opportunities.

Private Sector Tender Opportunities

The list below includes businesses such as Bupa, Kier and Boots. It is a list of private sector companies in the UK along with a list to their tendering/ portals sites for you to find opportunities or register with. We have categorised these organisations into Healthcare, Construction, Property Management, Retailers, Professional Services, Logistics, Energy and Telecoms.

Private Sector Tenders with Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals:

• Bupa
• AstraZeneca
• GlaxoSmithKline
• Smith+Nephew
• Novo Nordisk
• Roche
• Pfizer
• Sanofi
• Johnson & Johnson
• Baxter
• Abbott Laboratories
• Medtronic
• Bayer
• GE Healthcare
• 3M Science

Private Sector Construction Tenders, including Infrastructure Projects from Tier 1 Contractors:

• Balfour Beatty
• Skanska
• Kier Group
• Mace Group
• Jacobs
• Laing O'Rourke
• Costain Group
• Morgan Sindall
• Amey
• Bouygues
• VolkerWessels
• Wates Group
• VINCI Construction
• WSP Global
• Arup
• Babcock

Private Sector Tenders Property Management and Facilties Management:

• CBRE
• Savills
• Serco
• G4S
• Biffa
• Cushman & Wakefield
• JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle)
• Colliers International
• Landsec
• Peel Group
• GVA Bilfinger
• Mitie Group
• The Crown Estate
• Veolia
• Hilton Supply Management

Private Sector Tenders Retailers:

• Tesco
• Sainsbury’s
• Aldi
• ASDA
• John Lewis Partnership
• Morrisons supplier portal
• IKEA
• Boots
• Superdrug

Private Sector Tenders Professional Services:

• PwC
• KPMG
• Capgemini
• Atkins
• Arcadis
• AECOM
• Accenture
• Sopra Steria

Logistics and Transportation Private Sector Tenders:

• Royal Mail
• DHL
• UPS
• Amazon

Energy and Utilities Private Sector Tender Opportunities:

• British Gas
• EDF Energy
• National Grid
• Scottish Power

Private Sector Tenders in Telecommunications:

• BT Group
• Sky
• Virgin Media

Tender Portals used by Large Private Sector Organisations

This is a list of both the key tender portals to find private sector tenders but also includes examples of the types of businesses who use those portals.

Private sector businesses using JAGGAER (acquired BravoSolution) for their tenders and supply chain

• 3M UK & Ireland
• Bupa
• Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
• Dairy Crest (now part of Saputo)
• Johnson Matthey
• Tesco
• Victrex
• University of Southampton
• South Tees Site Company
• Anglo American
• Network Rail
• Boeing
• Sainsbury's
• NHS Scotland
• Centrica

Private sector businesses using Coupa for their tenders and supply chain

• Lorien
• Mitie
• Manpower UK
• Kantar
• Sabre
• Saga
• Unilever
• Autovia
• Blue Arrow
• Equans UK & Ireland
• UPS

Private sector businesses using Constructionline for their tenders and supply chain:

• Mace
• Morgan Sindall Construction
• Balfour Beatty
• Kier Group
• Willmott Dixon
• Vinci Construction UK
• Tilbury Douglas
• Wates Group
• Skanska UK
• Bouygues UK
• BAM Construct UK
• Galliford Try
• Laing O'Rourke
• Interserve
• Costain
  
• Multiplex Construction Europe
• Lendlease
• John Sisk & Son
• Sir Robert McAlpine
• Eurovia UK

Private sector businesses using SAP and Ariba for their tenders and supply chain

• Aldi
• BT Group
• G4S
• Twinings Ovaltine
• Jacobs
• Smith+Nephew
• Transport for London
• CONA Services
• Delta Air Lines
• FC Bayern
• Team Liquid

Private sector businesses using Achilles for their tenders and supply chain

• Costain
• National Grid
• SSE (Scottish and Southern Energy)
• Thames Water
• Electricity North West
• Severn Trent Water
• UK Power Networks
• Northern Powergrid
• Scottish Power
• Network Rail
• Sellafield Ltd
• Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water
• Northumbrian Water Group
• SGN (Southern Gas Networks)
• Cadent Gas
• Northern Gas Networks
• Wales & West Utilities

Private sector businesses using Oracle for their tenders and supply chain

• HSBC
• BT Group
• Barclays
• Lloyds Banking Group
• GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
• Unilever
• AstraZeneca
• Vodafone
• Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS)
• Centrica
• British American Tobacco (BAT)
• Diageo
• Reckitt Benckiser (RB)
• Rolls-Royce

Private sector businesses using Proactis for their tenders and supply chain

• Savills
• Magnox Limited
• CBRE
• Bauer Media
• Hoyer Group
• Mears Group
• Four Seasons Health Care
• British Land
• London Borough of Bexley
• Bright Horizons
• Manpower
• National Trust
• Roll Group
• P&O Ferrymasters
• City of Cardiff Council
• VolkerRail
• Screwfix
• Bombardier Transportation
• Edilians

Private sector businesses using Mercell for their tenders and supply chain

• Skanska UK
• Peel Ports
• United Utilities

Please note:

You may notice the same company under multiple procurement and tender platforms. We find many large companies use multiple procurement systems and may also stop using systems.

Private Sector Bid Opportunities: Proposal Writing Partner

Private sector procurement can be difficult and can present far more challenges than public sector tenders do. Finding private sector tenders, researching the company and writing a successful bid is a tough process that requires you to be completely committed.

Relationship building and business development is key! But you will still need to registered with them as a supplier or via a third party portal, like those listed above. Once registered you are then on their approved suppliers list and will be invited to tender, or to put forward an RFP or business proposal.

Thornton & Lowe can help businesses win all types of tenders through our process that includes the tender pitch and proposal writing. This bid management service sits within our bid writing services. We can also offer bid writing courses and training specifically tailored to meet the needs of your sales or proposals team who are competing to maximise ROI on private sector tenders.

At Thornton & Lowe, we have a proven track record of assisting clients across various sectors, including construction, IT, healthcare, consultancy, workwear, recruitment, and facilities management, in successfully winning hundreds of private sector tenders. Our experience includes tender wins with Hutchinson Ports, HSS Hire, Balfour Beatty, ISS, Unipart Rail, Savills, Arriva Rail, Sainsbury's, Dragonfly Management, Co-op Group, Wilko, Good Shepherd Trust, Diageo, and IVC Evidensia, for example (but it is a long old list!). We have also supported clients in winning tenders for football grounds, universities, housing associations, blue light services, central government opportunities, local authorities, and the NHS. With our expertise and dedication, we look forward to helping you achieve similar successes in your tender pursuits.

We also support Tier 1 Construction Contractors with our specific bid support division tailored for their requirements.