Securing new contracts for a security business requires a multifaceted approach that blends proactive outreach, impeccable reputation management, and tailored solutions.
It begins with meticulous market research to identify potential clients and understand their specific security needs. Establishing a strong online presence through a professional website and active engagement on social media platforms helps to build credibility and visibility within the industry.
Cultivating relationships with key decision-makers through networking events, industry conferences, and personalised outreach further enhances the company’s reputation and fosters trust.
Offering customised security solutions that address clients’ unique concerns and challenges demonstrates expertise and reliability, setting the business apart from competitors.
Consistent follow-up and excellent customer service are crucial in nurturing leads and converting them into long-term contracts, ensuring the continued growth and success of the security business.
How to find security contracts for your company
If you’re a security company looking for new business opportunities, tendering for work is a great option. Security contracts can include key holding, CCTV and manned guarding, patrols, and more. The process of tendering for work can be complex and time-consuming, but it’s worth it to pursue new business opportunities.
There are a few things to keep in mind when preparing to tender for work, such as understanding the client’s needs, being clear about your company’s capabilities, and putting together a competitive proposal. With some preparation and effort, you can increase your chances of winning security contracts and growing your business.
Security companies that are wondering how to find contracts for their business, should follow these three steps.
- Knowing where to find security contracts that are up for tender.
- Competitively pricing your services.
- Knowing how to write a high-quality bid response.
Step 1: How to find security contracts for your business
Security contracts are an essential part of keeping your business safe, but they can be difficult to find. With so many sites across the UK posting new tenders every day, it can be hard to keep track of them all. Ideally, you should look for a single site that covers opportunities from across the UK.
That way, you can search for security contracts that are specific to your company’s needs. Keeping track of all the different sites can be a full-time job, so finding one that covers everything you need is essential. By doing your research, you can find the perfect security contracts for your business.
The UK Government have a portal open to businesses for them to tender for future security contracts.
Previous security contracts sourced
Street Marshall Service – 29 March – 21 June 2021 for Allerdale BC
Allerdale Borough Council- North West- Budget: Undisclosed
Door Access System for Tamworth Enterprise Centre
Tamworth Borough Council- West Midlands- Budget: Undisclosed
West Alarm and CCTV Signalling and Monitoring
English Heritage- South West- Budget: Undisclosed
Invitation to Tender – Site Security Services
Static Guarding Services for DWP – South Holland, Boston & Kings Lynn -Budget: £1,085,000
Invitation to Tender – Site Security Services
Bus Interchange Security Service – Warrington Borough Council – Budget: £630,000
Step 2: Price your bid right
If you’re bidding on a security contract, it’s important to find the right balance between pricing your services competitively and pricing them too low. If you price your services too low, buyers may suspect that there’s something questionable about your company. On the other hand, if you don’t price your services competitively, you run the risk of losing the bid to a competitor.
The best way to find the right balance is to do your research and put together a fair and accurate estimate of the costs associated with the project. By taking the time to do this, you’ll be in a much better position to submit a winning bid.In the private sector, the lowest bid is often the most successful. This is because businesses are motivated by one thing only: profit.
They will do whatever it takes to increase their bottom line, even if it means cutting corners or using inferior materials. In the public sector, however, things are different. contracts are awarded not to the lowest bidder, but to the most economically advantageous tender. This means that public sector contracts are awarded to those who can offer the best value for money, not just the lowest price. As a result, the public sector is usually able to get a better quality product or service for its money.
Public sector buyers evaluate a range of factors when looking to purchase these including:
- COVID-19 recovery
- Accessibility
- Ability to finance the tender
- Technical ability
- Customer service
- Ability to deliver on time
- Innovation
- Environmental considerations
- Equality and diversity policies
- Sustainability.
Buyers assess a number of the above factors, every buyer will have different requirements, importantly read the specification tender documents to get a feel for the contract before you start to put pen to paper.
Step 3: Write a high-quality written response for security tenders
No matter what business you are in, the quality of your writing matters. This is especially true when it comes to tenders. A high-quality written tender response will give you the best chance of success, even if the quality section is weighted less than cost. buyers will be looking for clear, concise writing that is free of errors.
They will also be looking for a well-thought-out response that demonstrates a thorough understanding of the project. In short, the better your writing, the better your chances of success. So take the time to proofread your response and make sure it is of the highest quality possible. It could make all the difference in the outcome.
You should aim to keep your response:
- Clear and concise
- Assertive and persuasive, not descriptive
- As close to the word or page count as possible.
Top tips for winning security sector contracts
The security sector is highly competitive, and winning contracts can be a challenge. However, there are a few things that security companies can do to increase their chances of success. It is important to develop a strong understanding of the client’s needs and objectives. Security firms should make sure that their proposals are clear and concise, highlighting their unique strengths and capabilities. It is advisable to build relationships with key decision-makers within the client organisation.
By taking these steps, security companies can improve their chances of winning contracts in the highly competitive security sector.
1. Check how the tender is structured
When considering whether or not to submit a bid on a particular tender, it is important to carefully review the structure of the document. In some cases, all of the services required will be grouped together in a single lot. If this is the case, you will need to be confident that your business can effectively deliver on all of the requirements.
However, in other cases, the tender may be split into multiple lots. This can provide an opportunity for smaller businesses to bid on individual contracts. If you are considering bidding on a tender, be sure to take the time to understand how it is structured so that you can assess whether or not your business is a good fit.
2. Visit the site(s)
As anyone who has ever gone through the security tender process knows, it is essential to visit the site (or sites) before submitting a bid. Not only will this give you a chance to see the layout of the property and identify any potential security risks, but it will also allow you to assess the needs of the client and tailor your proposal accordingly.
In addition, a site visit gives you an opportunity to meet with the client and get a better understanding of their specific security needs. As such, anyone who is serious about winning a security tender should make every effort to arrange a site visit before submitting their bid.
3. Health & Safety
As a security company, one of your primary concerns is minimising risk. buyers want to be confident that the security services you provide will be carried out in a way that minimizes the risk to your employees, their employees, and the general public. There are a number of ways you can reassure buyers that you take health and safety seriously and that you have systems and procedures in place to protect everyone involved. One way is to earn certification from a reputable organization such as the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) or the British Security Industry Association (BSIA).
This shows buyers that you have been independently verified to meet certain standards. You can also highlight any credentials or training your employees have in health and safety. Finally, be sure to have clear and concise policies and procedures in place that everyone involved in providing security services understands and follows. By taking these steps, you can help to instill confidence in buyers that you are committed to providing high-quality, safe security services.
4. Quality control
Security companies looking to operate in the United Kingdom have to comply with a number of rules and regulations. One of the most important is accreditation by the Security Industry Authority (SIA), which is the statutory body that regulates the private security industry. To be accredited, security companies must have systems and processes in place for quality assurance.
In addition, they must be registered with the SIA Approved Contractor Scheme. This scheme is a voluntary accreditation scheme that recognizes private security companies that meet specific standards for management and operations. By meeting these standards, security companies can reassure potential customers that they are capable of providing a high level of service.
5. Manage the contract effectively
Winning a contract can be a major coup for any business, but it’s only the beginning of the process. Once the contract is in place, it’s important to have robust contract management processes in place to ensure successful delivery of the project. This means having a clear organisational structure in place, with corresponding lines of communication.
It’s also important to have financial standing and the ability to finance the security contract. By demonstrating these factors, you can give yourself the best chance of success when managing a contract.
6. Provide evidence
When a buyer is looking for a service provider, they will want to be certain that the provider has the necessary skills and experience to complete the task. One way to show that you’re qualified is to have staff who are trained with SIA approved certification. This certification shows that your staff has the skills and knowledge to provide the service that is being requested. Additionally, buyers will also want to see risk assessments. Risk assessments show that you have considered all of the potential risks involved in providing the service and have put measures in place to mitigate those risks.
By being able to show that you have the necessary qualifications, you will be more likely to win the contract. Financial standing is also important when competing for a contract. The buyer will want to know that you have the ability to finance the contract and that you’re not a risk of defaulting on the contract. By providing financial statements and other documentation, you can show that you’re in a strong financial position and are capable of fulfilling the terms of the contract. Ultimately, by demonstrating that you’re qualified and financially stable, you’ll be in a better position to win contracts.
7. Equality & diversity
Customers and buyers increasingly look for evidence that service providers are committed to equality and diversity. Security services are no different, and effective security providers must be able to demonstrate that they are equipped to provide an effective and appropriate service to all customers, taking into account their diverse needs.
One way to do this is by ensuring that your staff are trained in equality and diversity issues. This will help them to understand the needs of your diverse customer base and enable them to provide a more effective service. In addition, you should also consider how your security services can be tailored to meet the needs of specific groups within your customer base. By taking these steps, you can show that you are committed to providing an inclusive service that meets the needs of everyone.
8. Give extra value for money
The said criteria of best value for money can be a salient point to win a tender. The organization awarding the tender usuallyubmit a list of requirements that the participants must meet. An important aspect to remember is that the decision-makers are looking for an organization or individual who will fulfill their requirements at the most economical price without compromising on quality. You must, therefore, tread cautiously while preparing your proposal.
Oftentimes, participants only focus on meeting the requirements and overlook the importance of cost-effectiveness in their proposal. It is essential to do your research and have a clear idea about what your competitors are offering. This will help you present a winning proposition that meets all the requirements at a lower cost without comprising on quality or standards. Following these tips should help you increase your chances of success when bidding for tenders.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, securing new contracts for a security business requires a strategic blend of proactive marketing efforts, targeted networking, and the delivery of exceptional service.
By leveraging market research to identify potential clients, establishing a strong online presence, and cultivating relationships with decision-makers, businesses can position themselves as trusted partners in the security industry. Offering tailored solutions and consistently delivering outstanding customer service are key factors in converting leads into long-term contracts.
Ultimately, success in acquiring new contracts relies on a combination of industry expertise, proactive engagement, and a commitment to meeting clients’ evolving security needs.
Seasoned professional with a strong passion for the world of business finance. With over twenty years of dedicated experience in the field, my journey into the world of business finance began with a relentless curiosity for understanding the intricate workings of financial systems.