Resources
Practical guides for UK construction firms.
Written by a working commercial director, not a marketing team. Honest takes on finding work, bidding for public sector contracts, planning permission, and using planning leads — the stuff that actually wins contracts for SME builders, contractors and consultancies.
How to find construction work and leads in the UK (2026 guide)
Where UK builders, contractors and trades actually find new work in 2026 — planning leads, public tenders, frameworks, directories and word of mouth — and which sources are worth your time.
8 min readRead the guideDo I need planning permission for an extension? (2026 UK guide)
When a house extension needs planning permission in England, when it falls under permitted development, and the 3m/4m vs 6m/8m rear extension rules explained in plain English.
7 min readRead the guideHow much does a house extension cost in 2026?
A plain-English breakdown of UK house extension costs in 2026 — per-square-metre rates for single and double-storey, kitchen and loft extensions, plus the extras people forget to budget for.
7 min readRead the guideHow long does planning permission take in the UK?
The standard 8-week and 13-week planning decision timescales explained, what happens at each stage, why applications get delayed, and how long the whole process really takes.
6 min readRead the guideWhat is the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS)? A contractor’s guide
CIS explained in plain English — who has to register, the 20%, 30% and 0% deduction rates, gross payment status, monthly returns, and the April 2026 changes contractors need to know.
7 min readRead the guideThe Procurement Act 2023: what UK construction SMEs need to know
The biggest shake-up of public procurement in a generation went live on 24 February 2025. What actually changed, and what it means if you’re a small builder or contractor chasing public sector work.
8 min readRead the guideHow to write a public sector tender response that actually wins
Most construction tenders are lost on the quality answers, not the price. A practical method for scoring well on method statements, case studies and the selection questionnaire.
8 min readRead the guideSocial value in public sector bids: how SMEs actually win the marks
Social value is often 10% or more of a public construction tender — and it’s where local SMEs can out-score the big contractors. What it is, how it’s scored, and how to write commitments you can deliver.
7 min readRead the guideUsing EPC data to find retrofit and renovation work
Every home in England and Wales has an energy rating on the public register. For retrofit, insulation, glazing and heating firms, that’s a map of exactly where the work is. Here’s how to read it.
7 min readRead the guideHow to estimate build value from a planning application
You can size a job — and decide whether it’s worth chasing — straight from the planning application, before you speak to anyone. A quantity surveyor’s shortcuts for reading the value out of the proposal.
7 min readRead the guideWinning heritage and listed-building construction work
Conservation areas and listed buildings are a higher-margin, lower-competition niche — if you understand the consents and can speak the language. A contractor’s guide to finding and winning heritage work.
7 min readRead the guideHow to bid on UK public sector contracts: a 2026 guide for construction SMEs
Where to look, how to filter, how to write a bid that doesn’t lose, and the most common mistakes SMEs make. A practical guide from a commercial director who lives in the procurement weeds.
9 min readRead the guideUK framework agreements explained: a construction SME’s guide to getting on one
What CCS, SCAPE, NHS SBS and LHC really are, why most £1m+ public sector work goes through them, what it actually costs to get on, and whether you should bother.
8 min readRead the guideHow to use planning leads to win construction work
Planning applications are public the moment they’re validated. The agent named on the form is your warmest lead in UK construction — if you approach them right.
7 min readRead the guide
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