Last Updated on September 23, 2026
Finding. Since 24 February 2025, new UK public procurements publish their notices on Find a Tender. Registration is free and needed only at the point you bid. Contracts Finder now mainly carries procurements that started under the old rules. Source: Whito, whito.co.uk/infrastructure-companies/research/how-to-get-onto-public-infrastructure-work/, September 2026. Free to quote with a link to this page.
Whito does not broker any of this. We do not sell introductions, write bids or pass on enquiries. Every route below is public and free.
The mistake
Paying someone for “access” to public contracts. The notices are published, by law, in places anyone can search.
Route 1: Find a Tender
Find a Tender is “where public sector buyers publish notices about procurements opportunities and contracts” (find-tender.service.gov.uk, read 23 September 2026).
GOV.UK’s guide for suppliers on the Procurement Act 2023 says:
– “On 24 February 2025, the rules that shape how public bodies buy goods and services changed.”
– “you only need to register at the point that you want to bid for a contract.”
– “Find a Tender is free to use for everyone. There are no charges and you should not pay to view opportunities in the public sector.”
To register you give your Companies House number if you have one, postal address, website, email and the last two years of accounts (GOV.UK, updated 23 June 2026).
Route 2: Contracts Finder, for older procurements
GOV.UK says Contracts Finder lets you “search for information about contracts worth over £12,000 (including VAT) with the government and its agencies”. You can search without an account (GOV.UK, updated 9 September 2026).
Government guidance also says “the Procurement Act 2023 does not require publication of notices on Contracts Finder”. Procurements started from 24 February 2025 publish on Find a Tender (GOV.UK PPN guidance, updated 31 March 2025). So check both for now, and expect Find a Tender to carry most new work.
Route 3: National Highways’ own portal, and its suppliers
National Highways says: “We use National Highways eSourcing Portal as our e-tendering system, registering on this portal will enable you to search for opportunities/tenders.”
It also “requires its directly employed suppliers to contract at least 25% of their work to SMEs”. It points smaller firms to “websites where tender opportunities are published including Competefor.com”, and runs a free Supplier Development System (National Highways supplier guide, updated 11 March 2026).
For most smaller firms, the realistic first step is a subcontract under one of National Highways’ direct suppliers, not a contract with National Highways itself.
Route 4: National Wealth Fund procurement
The National Wealth Fund says it procures under the Procurement Act 2023 and that “all procurement opportunities and contract awards are published on the Find a Tender Service” (NWF, undated, read 23 September 2026). There is no separate supplier list to pay to join.
What to do this week
- Search Find a Tender for your trade and region. Set up a saved search.
- Get your Companies House details and last two years of accounts ready. Registration asks for them.
- If you want roads work, register on the National Highways eSourcing portal and look at its direct suppliers’ own supply chain pages.
If someone charges you to see public contracts, you are paying for something the government gives away.
Method and limits
Method. Official pages only: GOV.UK, Find a Tender, National Highways and the National Wealth Fund. Every quote was read on 23 September 2026.
Limits. Thresholds and rules change. The Find a Tender homepage gives above-threshold as “typically over £139,688 including VAT”, but check the current figure for your buyer type. This note does not cover Scotland’s own portal or private-sector supply chains. It is not legal advice on procurement.
Sources, each read on 23 September 2026: Find a Tender · GOV.UK, Procurement Act guide for suppliers · GOV.UK, Contracts Finder · GOV.UK, PPN Contracts Finder guidance · National Highways supplier guide · National Wealth Fund
If a fact here is wrong, tell us and we will check it against the source. Corrections, right of reply and removals: whito.co.uk/corrections/.
All infrastructure research notes · Infrastructure directory
If your business is named here and you think we have a fact wrong, email hello@whito.co.uk and we will check it and correct it. If you want to respond, send us a statement and we will publish it alongside. Full detail: Corrections, right of reply and removals.
