In November 2024, the government announced its commitment to get Britain building again and followed up by channelling £100 billion of capital spending to public services, including those related to construction and industry, like painting and decorating.
Not too shabby, right?
This blog will show you how to get your share of a billion by providing the steps to find, prepare for, and win painting and decorating tenders, with specific focus on Supply2Gov’s tender alerts platform.
Understanding the Landscape of Government Painting & Decorating Contracts
Typically, public sector painting tenders and decorating contracts are divided into two broad categories:
- Small: Between £10k and £50k. They are usually for one-off small or medium local government contracts, for example, schools, community centres, or council offices.
- (Large) Framework agreements: Between £100k and £500k and more. They are usually for local and central government multi-site refurbishments, for example, NHS trusts or local authority housing blocks.
It’s worth noting that there are subcontracting opportunities for large construction projects, as large commercial organisations don’t always supply all the required services. Subcontracting enables them to add painting services to their bid proposals, providing a more comprehensive range that adds to their bid’s value.
Are Painting & Decorating Classed as Construction?
This is quite a common question from professional painters and decorators, and the short answer is, yes.
According to the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) painting and decorating services are often considered part of construction work. However, when it comes to decorating, the tender must be over a minimum threshold or require multiple construction service suppliers for the completion of the project . When it comes to painting, contracts must relate to repainting or redecorating public buildings to be considered construction work.
Do Painting & Decorating Fall Under CIS (Construction Industry Scheme)?
The short answer is yes. More often than not, painting and decorating subcontractors’ income is subject to CIS deductions. This means that subcontractors must register for CIS – provided they earn over £30,000 annually from construction work.
Navigating Supply2Gov: Finding the Right Painting & Decorating Tenders
Supply2Gov has the largest database of active tenders in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, which includes commercial painting and decorating tenders that are published in real-time.
How to Optimise Your Search on Supply2Gov for Painting Tenders and Decorating Contracts
The first step is to register for tender alerts. You can start with free local area alerts and upgrade until your search extends across the entire UK and the Republic of Ireland, and across borders in the EU and wider international market.
Secondly, you must set up search filters. These are the words or key terms for contracts you want to receive, for example, “painting,” “decorating,” “refurbishment,” and “facilities management.”
You can also filter by region (you don’t have to live in the area you want to target), contract value (important when you’re just starting out), and start/end dates (important if you have your eye on other contracts in the pipeline).
Our platform also enables you to save custom search alerts specifically for your targeted categories in the industry, streamlining the process . In this instance, it could be “painting and decorating.”
Related Services
We provide much more than a simple tender alerts service, like helping you write a painting contract. We’re not letting the cat entirely out of the bag; she’s just getting a peep. We’re going to give you one handy tip. You can see the rest when you register on our site.
Tip: It’s important to ensure your rear end is properly covered by including relevant “safety” clauses, including types of finishes, warranty periods, surface preparation, and redecoration cycles.
Legal & Regulatory Considerations: CDM, CIS & Construction Classification
There are two primary compliance regulations in the construction industry:
- Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015)
- Construction Industry Scheme
Let’s take a gander at what they mean for painters and decorators in the public sector.
CDM 2015
CDM is all about the health, safety, and welfare of workers on construction projects. Projects which fall under its ambit follow three steps.
Step 1
- Ensure all workers have the skills, knowledge, and experience necessary for their roles.
- Ensure there are contractors available to provide supervision, instruction, and information.
- Ensure there is a written construction phase plan.
Step 2
Applies to projects with multiple contractors (domestic and foreign).
- Follow step one
- Appoint a principal designer and contractor.
- Create a health and safety file.
Step 3
Notify the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) if the project
- Will last longer than 30 working days.
- Will have more than 20 workers working simultaneously at any point.
- Or, will exceed 500 person days.
CIS Basics
Contractors deduct money from their subcontractors’ payments and pay HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Deductions are considered advance payments for tax and National Insurance.
In accordance with the regulations, contractors must register. Subcontractors don’t have to register; however, it’s strongly recommended because deductions are higher for unregistered subcontractors.
What Counts as Construction Work?
- Site prep, like laying foundations
- Demo and dismantling
- Building
- Alterations, repairs, decorating
- Installing heating, lighting, power, etc.
- Cleaning interiors when construction ends
Apprenticeships & Workforce: Training & Qualifications
Apprenticeships for local youth are a great way to meet social value requirements in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. Bear in mind that you can’t just offer apprenticeships for the duration of short-term contracts. They typically last three to four years, depending on prior experience and industry qualifications. The aim is to complete NVQ Level 2 and Level 3 (if necessary).
These qualifications are essential for everyone who wants to become a public sector supplier. Public sector organisations require evidence of NVQ Level 2 or a CSCS card – Construction Skills Certification Scheme ID card that shows workers have the training and qualifications necessary for their role.
Showcasing Success: Mini Case Study
This is an abbreviated case study to highlight some of the most important elements that your team needs to know to win government painting contract bids.
Elemental Paints, a mid-size SME painting contractor submitted a successful bid that won them a £120k contract to repaint six council-run community centres.
Here’s how they did it.
Elemental Paints took full advantage of early engagement opportunities to take a site walk and get the lay of the land. They attended a stakeholder meeting to clarify the scope of the contract, for example, does it include waste disposal, and if so, are there directions for proper waste disposal?
Thanks to their early engagement, Elemental was able to provide an accurate, detailed cost schedule that included labour rates (with CIS deductions), material specs (low-VOC emulsion), scaffolding costs, and a contingency for surface repairs.
Elemental ticked health and safety boxes early by submitting a plan upfront, with a specific focus on dust control and safe access.
They provided additional value by including a two-year touch-up guarantee and an optional annual maintenance repaint package.
In the end, Elemental Paints finished the work ahead of schedule without sacrificing quality, earning positive references from the contracting authority responsible for the project.
Find Painting & Decorating Tenders with Supply2Gov
Now you have a good idea of what’s expected of supplier bidding on public sector painting and decorating contracts, you can prepare and submit bids with confidence.
Use the tips above to set up a profile on our platform and register for tender alerts that are right in your wheelhouse.