Tender websites, FM companies, frameworks, and subcontracting — the practical routes into commercial electrical work for UK electricians. Accreditations, pricing, and how to land your first contract.
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Written and reviewed by Andrew Moore, founder of Elec-Mate, against BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, IET Guidance Note 3 and the IET On-Site Guide.
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Domestic work is the bread and butter for most sole-trader electricians, but commercial electrical work offers higher day rates, longer projects, repeat business, and more predictable income. A domestic electrician might earn £200 to £350 per day. A commercial electrician on the same level of qualification can earn £280 to £450 per day.
The barrier to entry is not skill — if you can wire a house to BS 7671, you can wire an office. The barrier is accreditation, insurance, and knowing where to find the work. This guide covers all three.
You do not have to choose one or the other. Many successful electrical businesses maintain a mix of domestic and commercial work — domestic for quick cash flow, commercial for higher margins and steady contracts.
Every key change in the 2026 amendment on one page. AFDDs, TN-C-S protection, new schedule columns, model forms. Pinned on your van dash.
Tenders are formal invitations to bid on a contract. The client publishes the scope of work, specification, and deadline — you submit your price and credentials.
Government-run portal listing all public sector contracts above £12,000. Councils, NHS trusts, schools, MOD, housing associations. Search for "electrical installation", "electrical maintenance", "periodic inspection". Set up email alerts for your area and trade.
SSIP accreditation AND a tender portal in one. Over 10,000 buyers use Constructionline to find contractors. Silver level includes SSIP accreditation. Gold level adds additional certification. Registration also gets you onto many main contractor approved lists automatically.
Links businesses to contract opportunities from major projects. Particularly active around large infrastructure and development projects. Free to register and bid. Good for subcontracting opportunities.
Many commercial contracts — especially smaller ones — are never publicly tendered. They go to electricians the client already knows and trusts. Building relationships is how you access this hidden market.
Facilities management companies manage buildings on behalf of their owners. They need local electrical contractors for three types of work:
Emergency call-outs: power failures, tripping RCDs, faulty lighting. Typically 4-hour response. Rates: £50 to £80/hour plus materials, or fixed call-out fee of £120 to £200.
Planned preventative maintenance: EICR testing, emergency lighting testing, PAT testing, lamp replacement schedules. Steady, predictable work — often on a 12-month contract.
Office refits, additional circuits, lighting upgrades, EV charger installations. Quoted per job. Good margins if you price accurately.
How to approach FM companies: Research which FM companies manage properties in your area (LinkedIn is useful for this). Contact their procurement or supply chain team. Provide your accreditations, insurance certificates, a company profile, and two or three references. Ask to be added to their approved supplier list. Follow up monthly until you get your first instruction.
A framework agreement is a pre-qualification process. Once accepted, you can bid on contracts within the framework without going through full pre-qualification each time. This saves enormous amounts of admin.
Professional quotes with the remedial estimator, then invoice from your phone the moment the work is done. From £6.99/mo.
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Subcontracting means working under a main contractor on their contract. They manage the client, the programme, and the overall project — you provide the electrical labour and expertise.
Commercial work is priced differently from domestic. Per-point pricing does not work — instead, use a detailed schedule of quantities or day rates.
Breaking into commercial work does not happen overnight, but the steps are clear: get your accreditations, register on tender portals, contact FM companies, and start building relationships with main contractors. The first contract is the hardest — after that, your track record does the selling.
Elec-Mate handles quoting, certification, invoicing, and job management for both domestic and commercial electrical work. 7-day free trial.
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