How Tiger Cleaning used Supply Connect to win larger tenders

Tiger Cleaning had the ambition to win bigger contracts, but public-sector tendering felt hard to crack.

With one-to-one support through Supply Connect, founder Alex Williams strengthened the business, secured key accreditations and went on to win several larger tenders.

Watch the full interview with Alex to hear how Tiger Cleaning used Supply Connect to sharpen its offer, meet buyers and win larger contracts.

For Alex Williams, getting into public-sector and larger contract work took time, persistence and a lot of learning along the way.

Tiger Cleaning was already an established business, working across London and the South East on a wide range of commercial and residential cleaning projects.

But when Alex started trying to win bigger contracts – especially with public-sector buyers and large organisations – he quickly realised that doing the work well was only part of the picture.

You also need the right accreditations, the right documents and a clear understanding of how procurement works.

That was the point where Supply Connect became a real help.

With one-to-one adviser support, introductions to buyers and practical guidance on how to strengthen the business, Tiger Cleaning was able to take a much more focused approach.

Since joining the programme, Alex says the business has won three or four larger tenders, with contract values reaching into the five-figure range and beyond.

A growing business with room to go further

Tiger Cleaning has been running for nearly 10 years and in its current form for the past six.

Based in London, the business works across the capital and the wider South East, delivering services for offices, schools, warehouses, hotels, medical practices and residential properties.

The company's team size changes depending on the contracts in hand, usually ranging from around 40 to 60 people.

That flexibility has helped Tiger Cleaning grow across different sectors, including education and healthcare, while also building its presence with larger organisations and local authorities.

Early ambition, but too many barriers

Before joining Supply Connect, Alex had been trying to break into public-sector procurement for a few years. The interest was there, but the process felt difficult to navigate.

Finding the right opportunities was one challenge, and knowing which online portals to use was another.

Then there were the tender documents themselves, often long, detailed and full of questions that needed careful answers.

Alex says the business had also been held back by not having the accreditations and certifications that many buyers expected.

At that stage, he felt unsure about the whole process, from where to apply to what documents were needed and how to frame the business properly in a bid.

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Practical support beyond just tendering advice

Alex first came across Supply Connect through an event, and from there the support built over time.

He began working closely with adviser Natalia, starting with online calls about the business, its goals and what it needed to do next.

That support then continued through emails, phone calls and face-to-face contact at Meet the Buyer events.

What made the difference was how practical it was.

While Alex received some general information, he was guided towards relevant tenders, shown which portals to register with and helped to understand the policies and documents buyers wanted to see.

That included areas such as health and safety, environmental policy, risk assessments and modern slavery statements.

He also valued the consistency of the support. There was regular contact, quick responses and a sense that someone was genuinely invested in helping his business move forward.

The big turning point: Getting the right accreditations

For Alex, the single most useful piece of advice was clear – get the right accreditations in place.

Following that guidance, Tiger Cleaning secured Constructionline Gold, ISO 9001:2015, Cyber Essentials, Living Wage accreditation and other health and safety credentials.

Alex is clear that this wasn't a small job. It meant investing time, money and energy into reviewing the business properly and putting the right systems and documentation in place. But it paid off.

That work helped Tiger Cleaning look more credible to larger buyers.

Alex also points to the company's strong customer reviews and award recognition as factors that supported its position when going after bigger contracts.

Winning larger contracts

Since joining Supply Connect, Alex says Tiger Cleaning has gone for many opportunities and has been successful in three or four larger tenders.

He describes the value of those contracts as being upwards of five figures, with some close to six figures and beyond.

One contract he's able to talk about (within confidentiality limits) is with a leading UK construction company. The project involved cleaning six high-rise residential blocks of around 30 storeys each.

That opportunity started at a Meet the Buyer event, where Alex made the connection with the client. He was then sent the tender documents and worked through a detailed submission process.

From the first meeting to the award of the contract, the whole timeline was around four months.

Alex says the main requirement was having the right accreditation, while the biggest challenge was the tender itself – working through the forms, the supporting documents and the level of detail needed to satisfy the buyer.

He believes the bid stood out because the business had become more professional and more credible. The accreditations mattered, and so did the company's reputation, strong reviews and awards.

The tender also included a commitment to hiring local people living close to the site, which formed part of the social value offer.

What Alex took from the experience

Looking back, Alex sees Supply Connect as something bigger than procurement support on its own.

For him, it has helped Tiger Cleaning become a more professional business overall, with better internal processes, stronger presentation and a clearer route into larger opportunities.

He also highlights the value of meeting buyers face to face and hearing directly what they expect from potential suppliers.

Most of all, he points to the value of tailored support. Having someone to guide him through the process, answer questions and keep the momentum going made a real difference.

For small businesses that want to win larger contracts but are not sure how to get started, his experience shows what can happen when the right support is in place.

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