Commercial paving

I'm really hoping someone on here can help me.

I'm looking to get into installing paving/kerbs/hardscaping/streetworks to highways standards for a metreage rate (measured works/price work) for large contractors, councils etc. I'm finding it quite hard to find out how to get into this sector. I worked as a supervisor on these installations for years and know everything involved from a practical point of view eg. standing charges, RAMS, insurance etc. As well as the installation methods obviously. I even spoke to project managers and clerks but coudln't work out how to tender for work or even where the tenders are or who I should speak to in another company or project. Or how its even decided who allocates work or how its allocated. For the job I was on yes, but the next one is the problem? I can get low price metreage work as an individual but never a complete project, guaranteed and every time I push I get stonewalled. Like not even a response from people I have an existing dialogue with.

Any help or advice that anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated.

try looking at supplytogov via a search engine. You can register yourself there and you get very frequent notifications about contacts coming up. And can download all the forms to complete and what to do with them. I did one bid, 96 pages and one tick in the wrong box and your application goes straight into the bin. Every one I know who gets into this tells me that it's a crooked process as they know who they want before it starts. And they have secret ways to identify the contractors. Another problem you face is you have to guarantee your work and they assess wether you have the finances to go back in say 2 years to re do it. To that end a guy set up a business trying to get work for small businesses. He priced a job in Big Ben at £250k. Was asked to come and explain how it was so cheap which he did. They agreed his price was bang on. But then explained the warranty etc and that was why the top 3 companies in the UK we're going to get it and they had all bid just over 2 million. Hope this helps and no none of it is made up. One of my customers had a planning objection and was told for 30k in a brown envelope would make it go away. They do wedding functions and 30k in the scheme of things was not a bad investment

Replies

Torin December 16, 2019 at 1:03pm

Hi Colin this is not my field as i am 90% domestic and im sure someone else will come along with more knowledge, but have you tried the Government Contract finder website for contracts over £10k ? there are other websites that deal with suppliers and tenders such as construction line and supply 2 gov that it would be worth you looking into

Might be worth you giving your local and parish councils a ring to see if they have a tenders list that you can join?

Lastly what about trying the big civils company’s to see if they have any sub contacting projects ?

Best of luck Torin
- Corin Doyle > Torin December 17, 2019 at 4:11pm
  
  Hi Torin, thanks for this. I have tried the gov contracts site but thats bigger than I'm looking for to be honest. I have worked alongside businesses who get paid each week for the amount they lay based on £/m2. I can't cover the costs for as long as I would need to for direct tenders unfortunately.
  
  I'll definately try Parishes though, that's a great idea. Councils is a similar payment problem it can be up to 180 days. The problem I've found with the big civils companies is actually getting to the right person at the right time. I think my phone calls and emails just get forgotten. The answer could be harassing them I think, I just don't like that sort of aggressive marketting.
  
  Cheers
Cindy Kirkland December 21, 2019 at 10:27am

Hello Corin,

Try registering on this council portal site https://procontract.due-north.com/Login

Council tenders are posted here. You have to set yourself up by skill set & the regions you operate in.

Might help?

Cindy

Log In
Peter Cermak December 22, 2019 at 9:52am

try looking at supplytogov via a search engine. You can register yourself there and you get very frequent notifications about contacts coming up. And can download all the forms to complete and what to do with them. I did one bid, 96 pages and one tick in the wrong box and your application goes straight into the bin. Every one I know who gets into this tells me that it's a crooked process as they know who they want before it starts. And they have secret ways to identify the contractors. Another problem you face is you have to guarantee your work and they assess wether you have the finances to go back in say 2 years to re do it. To that end a guy set up a business trying to get work for small businesses. He priced a job in Big Ben at £250k. Was asked to come and explain how it was so cheap which he did. They agreed his price was bang on. But then explained the warranty etc and that was why the top 3 companies in the UK we're going to get it and they had all bid just over 2 million. Hope this helps and no none of it is made up. One of my customers had a planning objection and was told for 30k in a brown envelope would make it go away. They do wedding functions and 30k in the scheme of things was not a bad investment