Tender Alerts for Small UK Businesses: Free vs Paid

Are free alerts from Contracts Finder and Find a Tender enough, or is a paid tender alert service worth it for a small business? Short FAQ.

Are there free tender alerts in the UK?

Yes. The official Contracts Finder and Find a Tender services let you search notices and set up alerts for free. You still have to pick the right codes and keywords, read each notice and filter out the ones that do not fit.

What does a paid tender alert service add?

Tender Picks UK reads new notices from Contracts Finder and Find a Tender every weekday, picks the ones that suit a small business in your sector (cleaning, IT or construction) and emails a short summary with deadline and official link.

How much does it cost?

Tender Picks UK is £12 a month after a 7-day free trial, and you can cancel any time.

Can small businesses win public contracts?

Yes. Since February 2025 below-threshold notices for new procurements are published centrally, and many contracts are split into lots that suit smaller suppliers. Seeing them early is what gives you time to bid well.

Can I try it for free?

Join the free weekly sample and get 3 picked tenders every Monday, or start the 7-day free trial of the daily alert.