Opportunity Next Steps
Received a new opportunity?
Use the simple steps below to review the opportunity, identify the right contact and make a professional initial approach. You can also download our initial enquiry and follow-up email templates to help you get started.
About your opportunity brief
Not every opportunity will include a direct email address or telephone number. This is normal — it does not mean the opportunity is incomplete or unsuitable. Each brief contains a planning reference, project address and other details that can be used to trace the relevant party through publicly available sources such as your local planning authority's portal, Companies House or the developer's own website. Where a contact route is identified in the brief, it will be shown in the expanded view. Where it is not, the guidance below explains how to find the right person.
What an opportunity can lead to
Introduce your services to the developer or client
At early project stages the developer or client may not yet have appointed a main contractor. This is often the best time to make contact, register your interest and position your company for future tender or supply-chain consideration.
Request details of the appointed main contractor
Where a main contractor has been appointed, contacting the developer or client and asking to be directed to the relevant contractor is a legitimate and commonly used approach. The main contractor's supply-chain team is then the correct point of contact for subcontract or specialist trade enquiries.
Register with the main contractor's supply chain
Many main contractors operate formal supply-chain registration processes. Identifying the contractor through the planning reference or project details and registering your company ahead of tender activity can put you in a strong position when packages are released.
Review the opportunity
- Read the complete opportunity information.
- Review the project type, location, development stage and likely timescales.
- Consider which of your services or trades may be required.
- Check whether the developer, client, main contractor or relevant organisation is identified.
Identify the right contact
If a contact route is shown in the brief, use that as your starting point. If no direct contact is provided, use the planning reference and project details to trace the relevant party:
- Search the planning reference on your local planning authority's public portal (e.g. Planning Portal, council planning search) to identify the applicant, agent or developer named on the application.
- Search the developer or applicant name on Companies House to find registered office details and directors.
- Visit the developer's or organisation's website and look for a procurement, commercial, estimating or project contact.
- Check whether a main contractor has already been appointed — if so, contact the developer to request the contractor's details, or search the project name to identify the contractor directly.
- Review the main contractor's website for a supply-chain registration or subcontractor enquiry process.
- Make sure the opportunity is suitable for your business before making contact.
Prepare your information
Before contacting the organisation, prepare:
- A short company introduction.
- Details of the services or trades you provide.
- Examples of relevant previous work.
- Your company brochure or capability statement.
- Relevant insurance, accreditation and certification information.
- Your correct contact details.
Send an initial enquiry
Complete all sections marked in [SQUARE BRACKETS] before sending. Do not send this template without personalising it — a generic message is unlikely to get a response.
Subject: [Project Name] – [Your Trade / Service] Enquiry
Hi [Contact Name], I am getting in touch regarding [Project Name]. We provide [describe your trade or service] and would welcome the opportunity to discuss whether we could assist with this development or any other upcoming work. I have attached our company information for reference. If you are not the appropriate person to speak with, I would be grateful if you could point me towards the relevant member of your team. Kind regards, [YOUR NAME] [YOUR JOB TITLE] [YOUR COMPANY NAME] [YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER] [YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS] [YOUR WEBSITE (if applicable)]
Follow up
If you have not received a response, you may wish to send a brief and polite follow-up after approximately five working days.
Complete all sections marked in [SQUARE BRACKETS] before sending. Do not send this template without personalising it.
Subject: Follow-up – [Project Name]
Hi [Contact Name], I just wanted to follow up on my previous email regarding [Project Name] and the [describe your trade or service] we can provide. I appreciate the project may still be at an early stage, but I would be grateful if you could let me know who would be best to speak with regarding upcoming tender or supply-chain opportunities. Kind regards, [YOUR NAME] [YOUR JOB TITLE] [YOUR COMPANY NAME] [YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER] [YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS] [YOUR WEBSITE (if applicable)]
Keep your own record
We recommend keeping your own record of each approach you make:
- Who you contacted.
- The date the enquiry was sent.
- Any response received.
- The planned follow-up date.
- The final outcome.
APT Opportunity Intelligence identifies potential business opportunities from publicly available planning and procurement sources. Opportunities are provided for intelligence purposes only. Not every opportunity will include direct contact details — members are responsible for tracing the relevant party using the planning reference, project address and other details provided. An opportunity does not guarantee work, an invitation to tender, a response or any commercial outcome. APT Business Solutions does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of any opportunity brief, and accepts no liability for any action taken or not taken in reliance on the information provided. Members should independently verify all information and exercise their own judgement before making contact or committing resources.