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How to Find Cleaning Contracts in the UK (2026 Guide)
If you run a small cleaning firm, public contracts can give you steady, multi-year work. The notices are public and free to read. The hard part is finding the right ones in time.
1. Know where cleaning contracts are published
- Find a Tender (find-tender.service.gov.uk): since 24 February 2025, new UK procurements under the Procurement Act 2023 are published here.
- Contracts Finder: still carries older procurements and some lower-value notices in England.
- Public Contracts Scotland, Sell2Wales, eTendersNI: the devolved portals.
- Buyer portals: many academy trusts and councils run their own e-tendering portals (In-Tend, ProContract, Delta). The notice usually still appears on Find a Tender.
2. Search by CPV code, not just keywords
Buyers tag notices with CPV codes. Cleaning services are in the 909 family: 90910000 (cleaning services), 90911200 (building cleaning), 90911300 (window cleaning), 90919200 (office cleaning), 90919300 (school cleaning). Keyword searches miss notices with odd titles, such as "Soft FM Lot 2".
3. Filter out the noise
Searching "cleaning" also brings up cleaning products, agency staff, street cleansing and drain jetting. Decide your services first and ignore the rest.
4. Check fit before you read the pack
Look at value against your turnover, location, contract start date, TUPE, and any accreditations required. Our free bid checklist covers 20 checks.
5. Track renewals, not just live tenders
The best time to win a contract is before it's advertised. Award notices often show the contract end date. Note it, introduce yourself to the buyer, and be ready when it re-tenders.
Or let us do it
The Cleaning Shortlist does steps 1–5 for you every week and sends a short list with a verdict on each. Start free.
By Carly · Updated 2026-10-24