UK Industry Tender Report - Security

August 2025 to August 2026

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The UK security procurement market continues to be one of the most active and competitive sectors in the public sector. For security firms, understanding the bidding landscape is essential for targeting the right opportunities and structuring winning bids.

This report pulls together the latest available data on security tenders, values, procurement routes, buyer requirements and regional trends to give you a clear picture of where the market stands and where it is heading.

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Market Overview

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Number of Published Tenders

In 2025, approximately 517 security-related tender notices were published across the UK.

Depending on how the security market is defined, the total ranges from approximately 345 tenders under the narrowest guarding-only definition to 586 under the widest definition, incorporating CCTV and electronic security codes.

For the purposes of this report, 517 tender notices is used as the headline figure to provide a consistent representation of the wider UK security procurement market.

The data covers areas including manned guarding, mobile patrols, keyholding, CCTV, alarms, access control, security systems maintenance and related security services.

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Public Sector Security Awards

Alongside published opportunities, approximately 570 individual security contract awards across 386 procurements were tracked during 2025.

The difference between the number of procurements and individual awards reflects the structure of public sector contracting, where frameworks and multi-lot procurements can result in multiple suppliers being appointed through a single procurement exercise.

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Total Procurement Value

Approximately £1.06 billion of reported security contract value was identified across tracked public sector security awards during 2025.

This included approximately:

• £312 million in directly awarded security contracts
• £443 million in framework agreement ceilings
• £303 million in integrated detention and facilities contracts where guarding represents a major component of the requirement

These figures should be interpreted carefully. Framework ceilings represent the maximum potential value available through an agreement rather than guaranteed supplier revenue, while integrated contracts may include services beyond security.

The scale of individual procurements also varies considerably.

One of the largest security-related contracts appearing in 2025 procurement data was the £904.9 million Department for Work and Pensions estates security contract held by G4S, covering guarding, security systems and maintenance across the DWP estate.

However, this was not a new £904.9 million contract awarded in 2025. The figure represents the cumulative value of a contract running since 2017 and was disclosed through an extension notice published in April 2025.

Among the largest new awards and procurement arrangements in 2025 were:

• Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre – £140.7 million, awarded to Mitie
• NHS SBS Security Services, CCTV and VSS Framework – £125 million ceiling, with 112 suppliers appointed
• Home Office eGates contract – £54.2 million

These major procurements demonstrate the significant value available at the top of the market, while smaller local and regional contracts continue to provide opportunities for SMEs.

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Average Contract Value

Across reported security awards, the mean award value was approximately £880,000, while the median was approximately £125,000.

The significant difference between the mean and median demonstrates how a relatively small number of major contracts can distort average market values.

For larger, above-threshold security opportunities, a typical contract value is approximately £400,000.

The comparatively low £125,000 median also reflects the growing number of smaller public contracts now appearing within published procurement data.

Security suppliers should therefore consider contract values according to service type, geography, buyer and procurement route, rather than relying solely on the overall mean.

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SME Share of the Market

SMEs secured approximately 38.4% of security contract awards by number during 2025, increasing to approximately 44.7% when shared and consortium awards are included.

However, SMEs accounted for only around 5% of total reported contract value.

This highlights a significant divide within the market: SMEs are successfully securing a substantial number of public sector security contracts, but the highest-value opportunities remain concentrated among larger providers.

The median SME contract win was approximately £600,000, compared with approximately £1.25 million for larger suppliers.

For smaller security providers, this indicates that considerable public sector opportunity exists, but successfully moving into higher-value contracts may require stronger evidence, greater capacity, relevant accreditations and a strategic approach to frameworks and larger competitions.

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Year-on-Year Tender Growth

Published security tender numbers increased significantly during 2025.

Approximately 357 security tender notices were identified in 2024, compared with 517 in 2025, representing a headline increase of approximately 45%.

However, changes in procurement publication requirements mean this headline figure does not represent organic market growth alone.

On a more comparable like-for-like basis, underlying growth in security tender activity is estimated at approximately 12–17% year-on-year.

Early 2026 activity is also running approximately 12% ahead of 2025 year-to-date, indicating that procurement activity within the sector remains strong.

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Year-on-Year Contract Value

Published security contract values also increased substantially between 2024 and 2025.

On a published-values basis, identified contract value increased from approximately £1.24 billion in 2024 to £2.41 billion in 2025, representing a headline increase of approximately 94%.

However, this increase is heavily distorted by a small number of exceptionally large contracts and disclosures.

When the £904.9 million DWP estates security contract is excluded, year-on-year growth falls to approximately 21%.

Removing the largest custodial and other exceptional contracts further reduces the difference, suggesting that the underlying security market by contract value remained broadly stable compared with 2024.

The headline 94% increase should therefore not be interpreted as evidence that the underlying UK security procurement market almost doubled in a single year.

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Procurement Routes

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Open Procedure

The Open Procedure remains common for standard guarding, single-service and relatively straightforward security requirements.

This is a single-stage competition in which all interested and eligible suppliers can submit a tender.

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Competitive Flexible Procedure

The Competitive Flexible Procedure was introduced under the Procurement Act 2023 and provides buyers with greater freedom to structure more complex competitions.

It is particularly relevant to integrated, complex or technology-enabled security contracts and allows buyers to design multi-stage processes that may include selection stages, dialogue, presentations, demonstrations or negotiation.

As buyers become more familiar with the Procurement Act regime, this procedure is likely to become increasingly visible across complex security procurement.

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Frameworks

Frameworks are a major route for public sector security procurement.

They are particularly suited to recurring requirements such as guarding, keyholding, mobile patrols, CCTV, access control, vacant property security and wider electronic security services.

Contracts awarded under a framework may involve a further competitive process or, where the framework permits and contains an objective supplier-selection mechanism, may be awarded without further competition.

For security suppliers, securing a place on relevant frameworks can therefore provide access to multiple future contract opportunities.

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Dynamic Markets and Legacy DPS

Under the Procurement Act 2023, Dynamic Markets replace Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS) for new procurements.

Like DPS arrangements, Dynamic Markets establish pools of qualified suppliers that can compete for future opportunities, with new suppliers able to apply to join throughout the market's lifetime.

Legacy DPS arrangements established under the previous procurement regime may still operate during the transitional period, meaning security suppliers may encounter both terms.

Dynamic Markets may be particularly relevant for repeat, fragmented or evolving security requirements where buyers require access to a flexible supplier base.

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Direct Award

Direct awards are permitted only where relevant statutory grounds are satisfied.

These can include specific circumstances such as extreme and unavoidable urgency, protection of life, certain single-supplier situations or where a competitive procedure has produced no suitable tenders.

They are applicable within the security sector but should generally be treated as an exception rather than a routine route to market.

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Common Buyer Requirements

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ISOs

ISO certifications can be particularly important in security tenders as evidence of a supplier's management systems, competence and ability to control risk.

Common certifications include:

• ISO 9001 – Quality Management
• ISO 14001 – Environmental Management
• ISO 45001 – Occupational Health and Safety
• ISO 27001 – Information Security Management

ISO 27001 is particularly relevant for CCTV platforms, monitoring centres, access control systems and cyber or technology-enabled security services.

ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 are commonly relevant to manned guarding, facilities management and larger integrated security contracts.

Buyers may accept equivalent evidence in some procurements rather than requiring a particular certification, so suppliers should always check the individual tender requirements.

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Cyber Essentials

Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus are increasingly relevant where suppliers access buyer systems, networks, personal data or sensitive information.

They are particularly relevant for technical security, CCTV, remote monitoring, access control and managed security services.

As physical and digital security systems become increasingly interconnected, cyber-security credentials are becoming more relevant to traditional physical-security providers.

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CHAS, SafeContractor and Constructionline

CHAS, SafeContractor and Constructionline may be requested where security staff or systems are deployed across construction, estate, facilities management or operational sites.

These schemes can provide evidence of health and safety, contractor-management and wider supply-chain compliance.

Their importance varies considerably according to the nature of the contract and they should not be regarded as universal requirements across all security tenders.

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DBS Checks

DBS checks are commonly required for security personnel accessing sites involving vulnerable people, children, healthcare, education or other sensitive settings.

Buyers may specify basic, standard or enhanced checks depending on the role, environment and activities being undertaken.

Equivalent disclosure arrangements apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

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Industry-Specific Accreditations

SIA licensing is a fundamental legal requirement for individuals undertaking specified regulated private-security activities, including areas such as security guarding, public-space CCTV operation, door supervision and close protection.

The SIA Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) is voluntary but is frequently requested or valued within manned-guarding procurement. Approved contractors are assessed against 78 performance indicators across seven essential criteria.

NSI or SSAIB certification can be particularly relevant to alarms, CCTV, access control and electronic security systems.

Other industry memberships, certifications or equivalent evidence may also be requested depending on the particular security service.

Right-to-work checks, appropriate insurance coverage, employee screening and vetting, TUPE capability and strong business-continuity arrangements are also common buyer considerations.

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Evaluation Criteria

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Price vs Quality Weightings

Each buyer sets its own evaluation weightings according to the complexity, value and risk associated with the contract.

Security contracts are frequently evaluated on both price and quality rather than price alone.

Typical structures can include:

• 40% Price, 50% Quality, 10% Social Value
• 30% Price, 60% Quality, 10% Social Value

A 60% quality / 40% price model, with Social Value incorporated within the wider quality score, is also seen within security procurement.

Higher-risk and more complex security requirements may place even greater emphasis on quality, particularly where service failure could create safety, safeguarding, operational or reputational risks.

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Social Value

Social Value has become an increasingly important consideration within public procurement.

Under current central-government procurement policy, in-scope organisations are required to apply a minimum 10% Social Value weighting, or equivalent measurement, although individual contracting authorities and procurements may take different approaches.

Security suppliers should therefore expect Social Value to remain a significant area of bid evaluation, with relevant commitments potentially covering local employment, apprenticeships, skills development, employment opportunities and support for people facing barriers to work.

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Regional Breakdown

Regional analysis should be approached carefully because procurement data may classify opportunities according to contract delivery location, buyer location or multiple regions.

However, BidStats currently reports the following number of security procurement notices associated with UK regions during the past 12 months:

• London – 145
• North West – 82
• South East – 70
• South West – 48
• East Midlands – 44
• Yorkshire & Humber – 44
• East of England – 40
• West Midlands – 28
• Scotland – 25
• North East – 17
• Wales – 17

These regional figures should not be added together to produce a UK-wide total, as procurements may cover more than one region.

The data nevertheless indicates particularly strong procurement activity in London and the North West.

Among the English regions outside London, the North West records the highest number of security procurement notices, with approximately 82, compared with 70 in the South East.

The North West also records almost five times as many security procurement notices as the North East, demonstrating a significant difference in published procurement activity between the two regions.

A reliable assessment of the fastest-growing UK region would require like-for-like regional data from 2024 and 2025 and should not be inferred from current tender volumes alone.

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Using This Data

The data shows a substantial and active UK security procurement market, with 517 tender notices and 570 individual contract awards tracked during 2025.

While published tender activity increased by 45% year-on-year, like-for-like analysis indicates underlying growth of approximately 12–17%, providing a more realistic picture of market expansion. Early 2026 data also suggests that activity remains strong.

The figures also reveal an important opportunity for smaller security providers. SMEs secured 38.4% of awards by number, demonstrating that smaller businesses are successfully competing for public sector work. However, with SMEs accounting for only around 5% of total reported contract value, there remains a considerable gap between winning public sector contracts and accessing the market's largest opportunities.

For security businesses looking to strengthen their position, preparation is key. Maintaining relevant accreditations, building a strong evidence library, developing measurable Social Value commitments and demonstrating the capacity to mobilise and manage increasingly complex contracts can all improve bid readiness.

Frameworks and Dynamic Markets can also provide important routes into longer-term public sector opportunities, while understanding regional procurement activity can help suppliers make more informed decisions about where to focus business development resources.

At Bid Writing Service, we help security companies navigate the tendering process, understand what buyers are looking for and develop stronger, evidence-based submissions.

Are you looking to win more security contracts? Get in touch with our team to discuss how we can support your next tender, framework application or wider bid strategy: info@bidwritingservice.com