The government is investing a considerable amount of money in public sector procurement – a whopping £300 billion annually. Obviously, funding isn’t meted out equally among public bodies. Some sectors have bigger budgets for procurement than others. We’re going to look at the top five sectors to find out why they’re so lucrative and how you can carve out a decent slice of the £300 billion pie.
Why Sector-Specific Focus Matters in Public Procurement
Targeting a very specific need within a sector is one of the best ways to succeed in public procurement. However, this kind of focused targeting requires an approach based on current trends and not solutions that met the brief two years ago.
On-trend solutions for each sector demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of its unique challenges, which helps build trust, the most essential element of a good relationship, especially when pursuing UK government contracts.
One of the ways in which you can keep an eye on trends is through contract analysis. In this context, it isn’t as complicated as it sounds. Basically, register for tender alerts on Supply2Gov and filter your requirements by industry, region, value, and keywords. You’ll see a pattern in the contracts delivered to your inbox. They share a common theme, and that’s your trend.
The 5 Best Sectors for Government Contracts in 2025
One of the nice things about public sector procurement is the diversity, for example, a healthcare facility needs cleaning services, so do offices that house cybersecurity experts. You can take your cleaning services just about everywhere. Right now, however, you really want to consider the five sectors below.
1. Healthcare & Social Care
It seems like everything is being reformed, from procurement (Procurement Act) to the NHS. All for the public good, of course. As far as the NHS is concerned, it’s got £130 billion to play with procuring digital services, facilities and equipment, and locum services.
More specifically, NHS contracting authorities are looking for:
Care services
- Primary care services, including GPs, dentists, and pharmacies
- Secondary care services, including mental health and out-of-hours
Digital health
- EHR (electronic health records): A combination of patient data that includes medical history, treatment, demographics, vaccinations, etc.
- RPM (remote patient monitoring): Real-time patient data gathered from RPM devices, like wearable sensors, glucometers, and cardiac monitoring devices, enables healthcare providers to track vital signs, especially warning signs that need immediate attention.
Infection control products
- Disposable gloves
- Protective clothing and equipment
- Bins and waste control
- Surface and room sanitising
- Door hygiene
2. Digital, IT & Cybersecurity
Digitisation is a major priority for the government. Many public sector organisations still use legacy systems that are frustrating and inefficient. This means there are plenty of contract opportunities for those in almost any type of IT-related role, but most especially in digital transformation (migration and integration), cloud infrastructure, and cybersecurity.
Cybersecurity is big business because most of the data in government departments is sensitive. Not just government secrets, but private data on individuals, like medical records and levels of education.
Common digital, IT, and cybersecurity tenders include:
- Website development
- SaaS and IT support
- Penetration testing and cyber audits (determining the effectiveness of an organisation’s cybersecurity measures, policies, and procedures).
3. Construction & Infrastructure
There’s pressure on the sector to meet production goals, to close the gap between supply (low) and demand (high). The (extra) challenge is to focus on energy efficiency and green construction techniques and materials.
Priorities include:
- Net zero retrofits: Retrofitting existing buildings to meet net zero goals.
- Construction of new schools and hospitals.
- Upgrading transport systems, especially the railways.
Access to tenders is available through several frameworks, including SCAPE, Pagabo, and Crown Commercial Service.
4. Education & Skills
There is a skills shortage in the UK – it has been for some time – so, there’s renewed focus on closing the gap through accessible education and training services, including CPD (Continuing Professional Development) training, remote learning tools, and teaching support services.
Current demand includes tenders for:
- SEND support: Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
- Teaching frameworks
- Tutoring services associated with post-COVID recovery
5. Facilities Management & Environmental Services
Local government councils tend to outsource many of these services, which means that if you register for tender alerts and keep an eye on local area listings, you have a good chance of beating your competitors to the punch.
Common tenders include:
- Cleaning
- Grounds maintenance
- Waste collection
All with a focus on keeping things green, with net zero in mind. This can be seen in the surge in sustainable procurement targets and ESG-compliant contractors. It’s up to you to ensure your business falls into that category, so you can optimise contract opportunities that come your way.
How to Find Sector-Specific Contracts Quickly
Public sector procurement has a reputation for being a waiting game, with up to 18 months before contracts are even awarded. Not everyone has the luxury of that kind of time. You can speed up the procurement process using the tips below.
Use Supply2Gov’s Sector Filters
Supply2Gov’s tender alerts platform enables you to tailor your contract requirements by industry and CPV code. CPV (Common Procurement Vocabulary) codes are assigned to products and services for easy identification. There are over 9000 codes.
You can narrow your search results by specifying the contract type, location, and budget size that suits your capabilities and capacity.
Benefit from Daily Email Alerts
Supply2Gov’s system sends alerts to your inbox as soon as tenders are published. We have the biggest database of active public sector contracts in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Bigger even than the government’s Contracts Finder and Find a Tender. So, you can be sure that you won’t miss a single opportunity that meets your contract parameters.
Upgrade for UK-Wide and Global Sector Coverage
Registration on our platform is free for local area alerts, but our pay-as-you-grow system enables you to find more contract opportunities as your business develops. You could even end up at the top tier, which unlocks higher-value and harder-to-find tenders from public sector bodies that extend into Europe and beyond.
Tools to Succeed in 2025’s Competitive Tender Landscape
Succeeding in public procurement doesn’t depend solely on the quality of your bid. It also depends on the tools you use to receive contract alerts and evaluate tenders to decide whether it’s a go or no-go.
It starts with our free registration for local alerts and continues as you move up to premium plans that include additional features like export and bid support links. We also have a training and help centre to guide you through particularly challenging aspects of public procurement.
Download the Full 2025 Public Sector Trends Guide
And that’s not all. We have a special guide for you to download. Our “2025 Procurement Outlook – Sector Opportunities Report”
It’s everything you need to succeed in public sector procurement in 2025.
That, and resources like this article, ensure you have enough information on topics like the most lucrative and promising sectors in public procurement. So far in 2025, those sectors are health, IT, construction, education, and facilities management.
However, markets change and needs evolve. New sectors could see rapid growth, and we’ll be here to guide you through local and central government procurement regulations when that happens.
For now, register for free access to local area tender alerts and upgrade to wider public sector contracts as your business flourishes.