AwardedAwarded 7 October 2025

Annual Festive Lights

Manchester City Council · Local authority

In brief

Manchester City Council awarded leisure and events work to MK Illumination (UK) Limited and Blachere Illumination UK Limited on 7 October 2025.

It is split into 3 lots, so a supplier can bid for part of the work.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

What the notice says

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…Read the full 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.

Lots

LotTradeValue
Lot 1——
Lot 2——
Lot 3——

Who won

WinnerLotValueDates
MK Illumination (UK) Limited (SME)Lot 1£757,827
7 November 2025 to 6 November 2030
MK Illumination (UK) Limited (SME)Lot 2£647,144
7 November 2025 to 6 November 2030
Blachere Illumination UK Limited (SME)Lot 3£449,950
7 November 2025 to 6 November 2030

Values as the award notice gives them, excluding VAT where stated.

Timeline

  1. Contract details notice · UK7, notice 070386-2025

About the buyer

Procurements

96

Awards

50

Suppliers it has used most for leisure and events

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From notice 070386-2025 on Find a Tender, first published 3 November 2025. We last checked for changes on 28 September 2026.