If there’s one thing every government department, agency, and council needs, it’s cleaning services. The result is a plethora of public sector cleaning contracts up for grabs. The thing is, even though the market is enormous, competition is fierce. You need to put in extra effort and provide souped-up value to stand out from the crowd.
Outstanding value attracts attention from public sector organisations, which is essential if you want to turn interested parties into qualified leads.
Early engagement and supplier engagement events are excellent opportunities to meet and greet – and woo – public procurement buyers. Speaking at events, like conferences and seminars, can help establish your position as a thought leader in the cleaning sector. Attending events, like expos and industry shows, can grow your network of buyers, fellow suppliers, and other stakeholders.
You’ve got to put all that interest and attention to good use and that means bidding on suitable contracts. We’ll look at what you can do to enhance your chances of winning contracts. Then we’ll pop by Supply2Gov to find out how you can find public sector cleaning tenders on its eSourcing platform.
Lead Generation from the Ground Up
You need to get the basics right if you want to generate qualified leads. That means starting with your website and digital marketing.
Let’s say you’ve got a beautiful website that works flawlessly, but you’re not getting many visitors and even fewer leads. You probably need to try SEO.
Search Engine Optimisation is as ground roots as digital marketing gets. It includes strategies that boost your ranking in Google search results. The higher your website, the better because research shows that people seldom scroll to the end of the first page, let alone click to page two. Judicious use of keywords and key phrases in your website content, including optimised images, is crucial to your search engine ranking.
SEO is a special skill, so it’s recommended that you work with a digital marketing company.
Your agency might also suggest PPC (pay-per-click) advertising, social media marketing, a content marketing campaign, and possibly email marketing.
When it comes to the public sector, email marketing is one of the most effective ways to engage with your target market and is the first step in turning leads into commercial clients.
While your digital marketing strategy continues in the background, it’s time to look at what else contracting authorities value in cleaning contracts.
Business Licenses for Cleaning Companies
Because cleaning uses various chemicals and special equipment, cleaning companies have to comply with health and safety rules. Not all cleaning services require a business license, it depends on the type of cleaning services your company provides and your location in the UK. But it’s a good idea to check with your local authority, just in case.
Applicable Cleaning Business Licenses
The following two licenses could apply to your cleaning business.
Waste Carrier License
Waste carriers with a service route that takes them on a public highway must have a Waste Carrier License. It’s proof that your cleaning company transports and disposes of waste safely and in compliance with relevant legal regulations.
Environmental Permit
You need an Environmental Permit if your cleaning materials include certain chemicals or solvents that release pollutants. The permit ensures you dispose of or recycle them safely. This is especially important as the government works towards its net zero goal.
Authorities don’t just dish out licenses to every applicant. You must prove your compliance, which typically includes supporting documents (insurance certificates). Your application will be reviewed and if the local authority thinks you meet the requirements – and you’ve paid the fee – you’ll get your license to provide commercial cleaning services to the private and public sectors.
(Fees can run from 10s of pounds to hundreds of pounds, depending on the nature of your services.)
Certifications for Government Cleaning Contracts
Certifications prove you have qualifications that meet the industry’s minimum skills requirements and quality standards.
Essentially, they advertise your professional status, so contracting authorities can see at a glance that you’re recognised and accredited by respected institutions, boards, bodies, and councils.
Risk-averse public procurement buyers are fond of certifications, so we recommend you consider the following certificates:
British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc)
There are several certification courses available.
- License to Practice (LTP): An entry-level course that proves your competency and compliance with health and safety requirements.
- Cleaning Professionals Skills Suite (CPSS): A step up from the LTP. It provides additional training in cleaning different surfaces and operating cleaning equipment.
- Specialisation in advanced skills, including biohazards, bodily fluids, graffiti, deep carpet cleaning, and sharp objects.
- Supervisor certifications
- Free online courses
British Cleaning Certification Award (BCCA)
BCCA provides a comprehensive course in cleaning services that covers everything from starting your business and storing equipment to cleaning chemicals and hospital and industrial cleaning. There are also modules on tax and how to run a successful marketing campaign.
A section on certificates wouldn’t be complete without mentioning ISO certifications.
ISO is an international standards organisation that sets quality standards that are widely recognised in private and public sectors globally.
ISO certifications that apply to the cleaning sector include:
ISO 45001: Occupational Health & Safety Management
ISO 45001 indicates that you have processes and policies that manage risks, prevent injury, and ensure you are entirely compliant with all rules and regulations governing the industry.
ISO 9001: Quality Management
ISO 9001 assures buyers that you are committed to providing quality services. This includes ongoing training and continuing professional development to keep your skills fresh.
ISO 14001: Environmental Management
ISO 14001 is the standard for strategic approaches to industry-related environmental issues. It shows that you meet your environmental management responsibilities – very relevant in today’s battle against climate change.
Now to business.
How to Find Cleaning Contracts for Your Company
Considering that virtually the whole world is digital, the best place to find contracts is online. The new Procurement Act introduces the Central Digital Platform (CDP), which makes it easy to publish and bid on new cleaning contracts. It replaces the old Contracts Finder and Find a Tender platforms.
However, you have other, more effective options to secure cleaning contracts.
Find Thousands of Cleaning Contracts with Supply2Gov
Supply2Gov boasts the biggest database of contracts in the UK. More than the UK and Ireland combined. We publish live (real-time) commercial cleaning contracts from government bodies, schools, and healthcare facilities.
All you have to do is register on our platform, choose your package, select your criteria, and away you go. There are four packages, from free local searches to the whole shebang – cleaning contract opportunities across the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
Selecting the right criteria is important because it filters out irrelevant tenders, so your inbox isn’t crammed full of unsuitable contract notices.
Filters include:
- Location
- Industry
- Value
Insight and Support for Successful Bids
You don’t have to go it alone to win cleaning contracts. When you register with us, you gain access to expert knowledge, free resources, and even Cyber Essentials certification.
The tendering tools on our site provide invaluable support, regardless of your company’s size, from small businesses or established commercial cleaning enterprises.
Some of the cleaning contracts available on our eTendering platform include:
- Government building and office cleaning contracts
- Hospital and healthcare facility sanitation
- School and university cleaning contracts
- Industrial and warehouse commercial cleaning services
- Window, carpet, and deep cleaning tenders
- Waste management and hygiene cleaning contracts
Register for tailored tenders now and you’ll be spoilt for choice as cleaning tenders bring prospective clients to your door.