Frequently Asked Questions
We often encounter questions about winning landscaping tenders and best practices in the bidding process. Below, we address common queries to provide clarity and guidance.
How can we successfully secure grounds maintenance contracts in the UK?
To secure grounds maintenance contracts, we need to ensure our proposals demonstrate reliability and quality. Providing detailed information about our past projects and expertise can help build trust with potential buyers.
What strategies are effective for finding and winning parish council grounds maintenance tenders?
Use free tender software like Tender Pipeline to find landscaping tenders and frameworks. Review which contracts your competitors have and previous awards to build a picture of how the sector works. Create a library or bid templates to help you bid efficiently.
What resources are available for locating landscaping tenders in specific regions such as Scotland or London?
Tender Pipeline covers the whole of the UK. It's free. Find a Tender is the key platform from the government, focused on high value landscaping tenders.
Could you outline the process for registering and using the Find a Tender service to obtain government contracts?
Registering for the Find a Tender service is straightforward. You need to create an account, fill in the required details, and start browsing available tenders.
What criteria should be considered to increase the chances of success when bidding for UK government landscaping contracts?
You should carefully review the tender requirements, including your ability to meet deadlines and deliver quality work. Why are you best placed to deliver the contract? This needs to be clear throughout the tender response. Pricing competitively while still ensuring profitability is crucial for a successful bid.
How Thornton & Lowe Can Help You Win Tenders
1. Expert Bid Writing Services
Writing a persuasive bid is a skill that combines technical understanding with structured communication. Our expert outsourced bid writers will help you build a strong narrative that not only highlights your capabilities but also demonstrates how your services directly meet the specific needs of each tender. We make sure your bid is clear, concise, and focused on outcomes that resonate with public sector evaluators. Whether you need help writing from scratch or refining existing content, we ensure your bid hits all the right notes, addressing every evaluation criterion with precision.
2. Bid Coordination and Management
Managing the bid process can be overwhelming, especially when you’re juggling multiple tenders or working to tight deadlines. Thornton & Lowe takes the stress out of the equation with our comprehensive bid coordination services. We handle the logistics, from tracking deadlines and managing document submissions to coordinating inputs from your internal teams, ensuring every part of the process runs smoothly and efficiently. Our goal is to free you up to focus on your core business while we ensure your bid is professionally managed from start to finish.
3. Strategic Bid Development
Winning a bid isn’t just about ticking boxes, it’s about having a solid strategy. Thornton & Lowe works with you to develop a tailored bid strategy that aligns with your business strengths and long-term objectives. We help you assess the market, identify key differentiators, and position your company as the best solution for the client’s needs. Our strategic advice is grounded in our expertise of the landscaping sector, procurement and bid writing excellence.
4. Frameworks and Repeat Business
Public sector frameworks are an increasingly common route for winning work, offering access to multiple contracts over several years. However, winning a place on a framework requires a different approach to traditional tendering. Our team at Thornton & Lowe helps contractors to understand the nuances of framework agreements and can guide you through the entire process, from registering interest and submitting successful framework bids. We’ll help you maximise opportunities within frameworks and secure repeat business.
5. Bid Reviews and Quality Method Statements
Even the best bid writers benefit from a second pair of eyes. We offer detailed bid reviews to ensure your submission is as strong as possible before it’s finalised. Our team will thoroughly assess your draft, offering constructive feedback and suggestions for improvement.
6. Social Value Tender Responses
Social value is increasingly becoming a critical component of public sector contracts, especially in sectors like landscaping and grounds maintenance where community impact can be significant. Thornton & Lowe has extensive experience in developing compelling social value tender responses that showcase your company’s positive contributions to the local economy, environment, and community. Whether it’s through apprenticeship programs, sustainable practices, or supporting local charities, we help you articulate your social value in a way that enhances your bid and aligns with the client’s priorities.
7. Guidance on Pricing
Pricing can make or break a bid, particularly when working with public sector bodies that are balancing tight budgets with high expectations for service delivery. At Thornton & Lowe, we don’t just advise on bid writing, we also provide guidance on pricing strategies. We only offer this service for landscaping and grounds maintenance tenders due to our specific experience and expertise in the sector.
If you have in-house bid writing and management capacity but need to improve their knowledge and skillset to increase your tender success rate, our bid writing courses might just be the answer you are looking for.
3 Bid Writing Tips for Landscaping Tenders
- Tailor Each Bid to the Client’s Specific Needs
Don't use a one-size-fits-all approach. Carefully read the tender documents and make sure your bid directly addresses the specific concerns and goals of the NHS, Housing Association, or Council you're targeting. For example, if a Council is focused on sustainability, highlight your use of eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient machinery. For the NHS, emphasise your compliance with health and safety standards. Customising your bid shows that you understand their priorities and you're ready to meet their unique requirements. - Showcase Your Experience with Evidence
It's not enough to just say you're great at landscaping; you need to prove it. Include case studies from previous projects that are similar to the tender you're bidding for. For instance, if you're bidding for a Housing Association, share a project where you improved outdoor communal spaces in social housing. Use clear, quantifiable results, like “reduced maintenance costs by 15%” or “improved resident satisfaction by 25%”. Solid evidence helps build trust and sets you apart from the competition. - Get Your Pricing Right and Justify It
Councils and NHS bodies are often under pressure to manage budgets, so your pricing needs to be competitive but realistic. Break down your costs clearly so they understand exactly what they're paying for, from materials to labour to ongoing maintenance. If you can show that your methods will reduce long-term costs (e.g., low-maintenance planting schemes or durable materials), explain this in the bid. Being transparent and upfront about pricing helps avoid red flags and shows you’ve thought things through carefully.
next to each Tender