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Annual Festive Lights

Manchester City Council

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

03 Nov 2025 at 11:40

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

15 Aug 2025 at 16:20

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

22 Apr 2025 at 10:15

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Manchester City Council has successfully completed the procurement process for the design and provision of its annual festive lights programme, a five-year contract set to begin on 7th November 2025 and conclude on 6th November 2030. The initiative, classified under the public authority - sub-central government category, involves the installation and maintenance of Christmas lighting across Manchester City Centre. Contracts have been awarded to MK Illumination (UK) Limited for Lot 1 (Core Lighting Scheme) and Lot 2 (Ground Level Feature Installations), while Blachere Illumination UK Limited will manage Lot 3 (New Large Scale Santa Feature). The procurement was conducted through an open procedure, and the total value of the contracts is estimated at over £2.34 million, with services concentrated in Manchester, identified as region UKD33.

This tender represents a sizeable opportunity for businesses specialising in event services and decorative lighting to expand their portfolio with a high-profile, long-term city council contract. Companies equipped with the expertise to design, install, and maintain energy-efficient lighting and striking visual displays will find this project aligns well with their capabilities. As the successful suppliers demonstrate, businesses with experience in handling municipally-focused decorative projects, particularly those familiar with public sector procurement processes and equipped to meet the specified quality, social value, and environmental criteria, are exceptionally well-suited to engage in similar future opportunities. This undertaking promotes innovation and creative design skills, offering growth potential through visible, impactful work in a vibrant city setting.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Annual Festive Lights

Notice Description

This procurement is for Design & Provision of Manchester's Christmas Lighting Scheme. The contract period will be for 5 years. It is intended for the contract to commence 07th November 2025. The procurement encompasses the following lots: Lot 1 - Core Lighting Scheme: The Supplier will be required to install and maintain energy-efficient LED Lighting in existing tree locations as identified in Appendix I. This lot also includes the provision of artistic high-quality motifs, fit with the city centre in existing column mounts, and the installation of artistic and dynamic displays in the existing fixing points on Deansgate and King Street as identified in Appendix I. Suppliers will be asked to provide a scheme based on gold, silver and bronze options for each specific location. The Bronze level package for an area will be at standard level provision, with options to upgrade the content to silver and gold. MCC and partners will select the appropriate scheme for each individual location - and seek private sector sponsorship to upgrade key areas in line with stakeholder ambitions. Lot 2 - Ground Level Feature Installations: The Supplier will be required to provide creative solutions to install up to 8 ground level feature installations within Manchester city centre. Lot 3 - New large Scale Santa Feature: The Supplier will be required to design, manufacture, install, derig, store and maintain a new iconic Santa feature for Manchester, each year across the term of the 5-year contract.

Lot Information

Core Lighting Scheme

The Supplier will be required to install and maintain energy-efficient LED Lighting in existing tree locations as identified in Appendix I. This lot also includes the provision of artistic high-quality motifs, fit with the city centre in existing column mounts, and the installation of artistic and dynamic displays in the existing fixing points on Deansgate and King Street as identified in Appendix I. Supplier's will be asked to provide a scheme based on gold, silver and bronze options for each specific location The Bronze level package for an area will be at standard level provision, with options to upgrade the content to silver and gold. MCC and partners will select the appropriate scheme for each individual location - and seek private sector sponsorship to upgrade key areas in line with stakeholder ambitions.

Ground Level Feature Installations

The Supplier will be required to provide creative solutions to install up to 8 ground level feature installations within Manchester city centre.

New large scale Santa Feature

The Supplier will be required to design, manufacture, install, derig, store and maintain a new iconic Santa feature for Manchester, each year across the term of the 5-year contract

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-050566
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070386-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

31 - Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

31522000 - Christmas tree lights

79952000 - Event services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,950,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,950,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£1,854,920 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£1,854,920 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Nov 20259 months ago
Submission Deadline
19 May 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
15 Aug 20251 years ago
Contract Period
7 Nov 2025 - 6 Nov 2030 Over 5 years
Recurrence
2030-03-01

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Manchester City Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
MANCHESTER
Postcode
M60 2LA
Postcode Area
Manchester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD3 Greater Manchester
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD33 Manchester
Delivery Location
TLD33 Manchester
Local Authority
Manchester
Electoral Ward
Piccadilly
Westminster Constituency
Manchester Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
2
Supplier Names

BLACHERE ILLUMINATION UK LIMITED

MK ILLUMINATION (UK) LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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