Start with the official portals
Use Find a Tender and Contracts Finder for public opportunities. For devolved buyers, check the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish portals linked by the Government Commercial Agency. Also check the individual buyer’s procurement page for instructions.
Save searches for the work you actually do
Use scope terms that a buyer might put in a notice: roof renewal, flat roof, roof coverings or roof repairs. Add buyer categories such as schools, councils or housing providers. Look at descriptions and attachments as well as titles, since the trade can sit inside a broader works package.
Sort by stage
Treat early engagement as a chance to understand the pipeline. Treat open notices as bid decisions. Read award notices to learn which businesses are active and whether a main contractor may be worth approaching for subcontract work.
Run a quick bid check
Confirm the delivery location, deadline, scope, likely value and insurance or accreditation requirements. Check whether there is a site visit, a separate lot and enough time to price it properly. Give each viable job an owner and a next action.
Look beyond public tenders
For private work, watch planning applications, talk to local main contractors and follow the estates teams that buy your trade. Planning activity gives you a reason to investigate a project early. Verify the scope and buying route before putting it into your bid pipeline.
When a shortlist helps
If your saved searches still leave you opening dozens of irrelevant notices, Ganger’s tender alerts add a relevance check and a suggested next action.