Catering tenders in the UK: open public sector food contracts

How to bid for public sector catering contracts

1. Register your food business in time. GOV.UK says that in England, Wales and Northern Ireland you must register with the local authority at least 28 days before trading. Source: Register a food business (GOV.UK).
2. Check the food buying standards. Government departments must meet the minimum mandatory Government Buying Standards for food and catering, and the wider public sector is encouraged to specify them. Source: Government Buying Standards for food and catering services (GOV.UK).
3. TUPE may apply. GOV.UK lists a "service provision change" — for example in-house cleaning or workplace catering being awarded to a contractor, or a contract ending and going to a new contractor — as a transfer protected by TUPE. Check the tender documents for staff transfer information before you price. Source: Transfers of undertakings (TUPE) (GOV.UK).
4. Register on Find a Tender first. Under the Procurement Act 2023 notices are published on the central digital platform, and buyers must get confirmation that you have registered and submitted your core supplier information before you take part in a procurement. Source: Guidance: Central Digital Platform and Publication of Information (GOV.UK).
5. Look for lots. Before publishing a tender notice, a buyer must consider whether the contract could be split into lots, and give reasons if it isn't. Lots can bring part of a large contract within reach of a smaller business. Source: Procurement Act 2023, section 18: duty to consider lots.
6. Know your payment rights. Most public contracts include an implied term that undisputed valid invoices are paid within 30 days (exceptions include contracts awarded by schools and concession contracts). Source: Procurement Act 2023, section 68: implied payment terms.
7. Go/no-go before you write. Read the full notice and documents, check you can meet the conditions of participation and the deadline, and walk away from poor fits. Our free go/no-go checklist helps. Source: Procurement Act 2023 guidance (GOV.UK).

FAQ

Will I take on the existing catering staff?

Possibly. GOV.UK gives workplace catering moving to a contractor as an example of a service provision change covered by TUPE. Check the tender documents for staff transfer information.

Where are public sector catering contracts advertised?

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland most are published on Find a Tender (the central digital platform under the Procurement Act 2023) and lower-value ones also on Contracts Finder. Scottish buyers mainly use Public Contracts Scotland, and Welsh buyers also use Sell2Wales. This page lists catering notices from Find a Tender and Contracts Finder only.

How up to date is this list?

The data was last refreshed on 25 October 2026. It covers notices published or updated in the 45 days before that, with a response deadline still to come when the page was built. We refresh it weekly. Always check the official notice: it is the only authoritative version.

Can you guarantee I will win a contract?

No. No one honestly can. Most bids do not win. We show you open opportunities and, if you want, help you decide which are worth bidding for.

Official sources

• Find a Tender
• Contracts Finder (GOV.UK)
• Register a food business (GOV.UK)
• Government Buying Standards for food and catering services (GOV.UK)
• Transfers of undertakings (TUPE) (GOV.UK)
• Guidance: Central Digital Platform and Publication of Information (GOV.UK)
• Procurement Act 2023, section 18: duty to consider lots
• Procurement Act 2023, section 68: implied payment terms
• Procurement Act 2023 guidance (GOV.UK)
• Open Government Licence v3.0

General information, not legal advice. Rhinehart Studio is not affiliated with Find a Tender, Contracts Finder or any buyer.