How to Win Work in UK Facilities Management
Facilities management procurement operates on very different rules from domestic trade work. FM clients manage large corporate property portfolios under strict legal compliance and contractual SLAs.
6 Key Steps to Securing Facilities Management Work
From baseline compliance to preferred supplier status.
Establish Your Compliance Baseline
Ensure your Public Liability covers £5m (preferably £10m), Employers Liability covers £10m, and your business holds valid SSIP accreditation (CHAS, SafeContractor, or Constructionline).
Verify Trade Competencies
Validate all relevant technical registrations: NICEIC/NAPIT for electrical, Gas Safe for commercial gas, Refcom for HVAC/refrigeration, and CSCS cards for all site engineers.
Prepare Audit-Ready RAMS
Develop a professional, site-tailored Risk Assessment and Method Statement template system. FM companies will not issue work orders without compliant RAMS.
Join Established Approved Contractor Panels
Apply to join managed contractor networks such as EntireFM. This bypasses long public tender cycles and puts your business directly in front of active job dispatchers.
Demonstrate Digital Reporting Discipline
Provide rapid, transparent service sheets with asset numbers, serial codes, part numbers, and clear before/after photographs for every completed assignment.
Build Repeat Preferred Status
Consistently meeting response times and submitting clean, accurate invoices referencing Purchase Orders elevates your business to preferred status for scheduled PPM packages.
What You Must Have in Place Before Pitching FM Clients
FM companies rarely accept unaccredited contractors. Holding a current SSIP certificate (such as CHAS, SafeContractor, or Constructionline) proves you meet UK CDM 2015 stage 1 safety standards.
Electrical contractors require NICEIC or NAPIT registration; HVAC contractors require Refcom and F-Gas certificates; commercial gas engineers require Gas Safe with commercial elements (COCN1).
Standard commercial FM contracts require a minimum of £5,000,000 Public Liability insurance (often £10M for high-value corporate sites) and £10,000,000 Employers Liability.
FM clients will not issue a Permit to Work without reviewing a compliant Risk Assessment and Method Statement. Demonstrating professional RAMS authoring is essential to winning repeat work.