---
title: "Annual Festive Lights"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-050566"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-050566"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050566.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050566.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "MANCHESTER CITY COUNCIL"
published: "2025-11-03"
---

# Annual Festive Lights

Buyer: MANCHESTER CITY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-050566

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## Summary

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.

## Notice

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

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070386-2025 |
| 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 |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 3 Nov 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 19 May 2025 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 14 Aug 2025 |
| Contract period | 7 Nov 2025 - 6 Nov 2030 |
| Recurrence | 2030-03-01 |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £1,950,000 |
| Lots value | £1,950,000 |
| Awards value | £1,854,920 |
| Contracts value | £1,854,920 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | MANCHESTER CITY COUNCIL |
| Locality | MANCHESTER |
| Post town | Manchester |
| Postcode | M60 2LA |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLD3 Greater Manchester |
| ITL 3 | TLD33 Manchester |
| Local authority | Manchester |
| Electoral ward | Piccadilly |
| Westminster constituency | Manchester Central |
| Delivery location | TLD33 Manchester |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 2 |
| Supplier names | BLACHERE ILLUMINATION; MK ILLUMINATION (UK |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 31 - Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting
- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

### Codes

- 31522000 - Christmas tree lights
- 79952000 - Event services

## Release History

- 3 Nov 2025 at 11:40 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070386-2025
- 15 Aug 2025 at 15:20 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/049261-2025
- 22 Apr 2025 at 09:15 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/016141-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070386-2025
  3rd November 2025 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/049261-2025
  15th August 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/016141-2025
  22nd April 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- www.the-chest.org.uk
  The Council is using the e-business portal known as the Chest. Applicants will need to register their details at the following link www.the-chest.org.uk . Once registered, applicants will be emailed a log-in and password which will allow them to gain access to the documentation relating to this opportunity. Applicants will need to electronically submit their completed tender documents, including procurement specific questionnaire, via the on-line portal by 11am on 19th May 2025 as referred to in tender documentation. Any clarification queries must also be submitted via the Chest website by the date referred to in the tender documentation.
- https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=7b959ac6-941b-f011-8136-005056b64545&fromProjectDashboard=True
  Please find the link to the CHEST advert to register an interest for this opportunity and access the ITT documents.

## Notice URLs

- http://www.blachere-illumination.co.uk
- https://mkillumination.co.uk/
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.manchester.gov.uk/

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-050566. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050566.json.