Blog
Plain-English guides to UK public procurement, and the odd note on how Contract Scanner itself works.
What Are Public Sector Tenders? A Plain-English Introduction
2026-09-01
Central government, councils, the NHS, police forces, schools - all of them buy goods and services through a formal, published process. Here's what that process actually is.
Read more →How Public Procurement Works in the UK
2026-09-01
The Procurement Act 2023 reshaped the rulebook public buyers follow. Here's the practical version of what that means for anyone trying to win a contract.
Read more →How to Apply for a Public Tender: A Beginner's Checklist
2026-09-01
Your first bid doesn't have to be intimidating. Here's a practical, step-by-step checklist for a first-time bidder.
Read more →CPV Codes Explained: Why They Matter When You're Searching for Contracts
2026-09-01
Every public contract notice is tagged with a CPV code. Knowing yours turns a vague keyword search into a precise one.
Read more →Contracts Finder vs Find a Tender vs Sell2Wales: What's the Difference?
2026-09-01
Four different platforms, four different rules for what gets published where. Here's how to tell them apart.
Read more →Below-Threshold Contracts: The Opportunities Most Bidders Never See
2026-09-14
Most people picture a government contract as a huge, multi-year framework. The far more common reality is smaller, less visible, and easier to win than you'd think.
Read more →What "SME Suitable" Actually Means on a Tender Notice
2026-09-14
Contracts Finder tags many notices as suitable for SMEs or VCSEs. Here's what that flag actually signals, and what it doesn't.
Read more →How to Find Construction Tenders in the UK: A Practical Guide
2026-09-14
Construction is one of the biggest categories of public sector spend, and one of the most fragmented to search. Here's where it actually shows up, and what to track.
Read more →Cleaning & Facilities Contracts: Where Councils Actually Publish Them
2026-09-14
A lot of cleaning and facilities spend never looks like a dramatic one-off tender. Here's why, and where to actually look.
Read more →IT Services for the Public Sector: A Beginner's Guide to Bidding
2026-09-14
Selling IT or digital services to government isn't the same motion as selling to a private client. Here's what's genuinely different before your first bid.
Read more →What Happens If You Cancel a Team Plan Mid-Year: The Real Maths
2026-09-14
An annual plan is a bigger commitment than a monthly one, so it's a fair question. Here's the actual calculation, not a rough guess.
Read more →