[CP CLEANING]

hi to all

does anyone know how to go about getting work from the local council,???

kind regards

cp cleaning

[IdentiClean.co.uk]

My local council asks companies to put in a tender once a year, even if you don't get the contract on offer they usually keep you on the books and offer you other work later. Also you could try looking in the back of the Cleaning and Hygiene Today magazine as some local councils advertise for tenders in there.

[Andrew P]

Hi CP

I have just been added to the 2006 tender list for my local council.

I called the local councils switch board and asked for the relevant department, I had to fill in a lengthy application and fulfill certain criteria so hopefully it will all be worth it .

I did have to increase my public liability insurance to £10million. All councils are different so i would suggest a call.

Regards

Andrew P

[Ged]

It's worth contacting your local chamber of commerce. ours do a meet the buyer day where officers from the council go through the tendering process and what they require etc. i'm going on one in may. they have different times for different sectors like service providers, catering, engineering etc.

give them a ring


goodluck


ged

[IdentiClean.co.uk]

I had to fill in a lengthy application and fulfill certain criteria so hopefully it will all be worth it .

Thats normal for all council work as far as I can see, it can be a pain in the backside especially if you are overlooked that year, but it pays off in the end.

I did have to increase my public liability insurance to £10million. All councils are different so i would suggest a call.

Most councils would expect this also and can be costly depending on your insurer, I had a problem with an insurer once that refused to send me a cover letter so I missed out on that years tender with my local council as they need proof of cover, it turned out that the insurer was just some bloke trading from his house and I wasn't actually insured, that came as a huge unwelcome suprise I can tell you.

[andy8004]

it may also prove helpful to have done a few courses. I have had a few council contracts, and anything to do with health and safety, first aid etc is good.
do you also have a testimonial type file of previous clients? preferably ones that are bigger customers, and were happy with the job.

Also, bang on about wanting to serve, the community you will be working in, and make a diifference to it. they like to hear things like that.

Good luck!   andy

[Paul Kettless]

 <sub>[I did have to increase my public liability insurance to £10million. All councils are different so i would suggest a call./sub]

My local council used to be 5 million and they have now increased it to 10, the damn annoying part of it is that my insurers (AXA) only cover up to 5

It is worth remembering that being on the list does not guarantee you any work at all, from memory I had to pay an additional £160 to my policy for the extra PLI and I got no work at all.

As it has already been mentioned, councils do like the larger companies, and it is difficult for newcomers to get a look in.

Regards
Paul</sub>

[therapist]

There are many berriers to councilwork.

First of all, you must get onto the Approved Suppliers/Contractors list......this requires the submission of a full Busines PLan and Company history.

You need to be VERY WELL funded.

You have to be prepared to be compliant.

Insurance is £10,000,000..........about £800 to £900, cost.

You and your employees will have to go through the Disclosure process, which in some cases will be the enhanced disclosure, which goes back to your childhood and will show any incidence where you were involved with the police.

Even if you lay out many thousands of £'s and many man hours in puting your presentation together..............the don't have to use you !

You will be monitored on a regular basis, by employees of your competitors, ie, the Council.

You may go bust as you wait for payment.

Forgot to mention..........even if you are successful in obtaining work.........the council will put a capping restriction, on how much you get and this may continue into the second, or even the third year.

The above, is the reason that we keep our Council work at circa, 25% of turnover.

good luck

rob m

[Prestige1]

ummm sounds easy then!!!!!!!!

[therapist]

Absolute dawdle !!!!!!

If you are patient and go in with your eyes wide open and don't try to run before you can walk, etc, you could build a ' council contracting division ' along side your existing business.

Personally, I would rather have invested in something with a quicker return and fewer hassles.

best wishes

rob m