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Surety Bonds

Specialist UK Surety Bond Brokers
Surety Bonds for Contractors, Developers & Commercial Businesses
SB&G arranges a broad range of UK Surety Bonds for contractors, subcontractors, developers and businesses. From Performance and Advance Payment Bonds to Section, Retention and Materials Bonds, we provide specialist market access for standard and complex requirements.
Specialist UK Surety Broker
Broad Surety Market Access
New Companies & SPVs Considered
Standard & Bespoke Bond Wording
UK Surety Bonds

Which Type of Surety Bond Do You Need?

Select the relevant bond below to view specialist guidance, underwriting information and the appropriate enquiry route.
Performance Bonds
Contract performance security for contractors and construction projects, including ABI, conditional, on-demand and bespoke wording.
Performance Bonds ›
Advance Payment Bonds
Security protecting advance or stage payments made before goods, materials or contracted works have been delivered.
Advance Payment Bonds ›
Section Bonds
Section 38, Section 104, Section 278 and other road, sewer and infrastructure bonds for developers and contractors.
Section Bonds ›
Retention Bonds
An alternative to cash retention that can help contractors protect working capital while satisfying contract requirements.
Retention Bonds ›
Materials Bonds
Security for advance-paid, off-site or stored materials used in construction and commercial projects.
Materials Bonds ›
Other Surety Requirements
Bid, tender and other commercial bond requirements can also potentially be considered through the wider surety market.
Email the Requirement ›
Surety Explained

What Is a Surety Bond?

A Surety Bond is a contractual guarantee provided by a surety to support obligations owed by one party to another. In construction this commonly involves a contractor, an employer or beneficiary and the surety providing the bond.
Surety Bonds are frequently required by construction and commercial contracts, including JCT and NEC arrangements, and may protect against specified losses or contractual failures depending on the bond wording.
Surety is distinct from conventional insurance. The surety underwrites the applicant and normally expects an indemnity or other agreed support behind the bond rather than simply transferring an unknown risk.
Detailed Guidance
How Surety Underwriting Works ›
Who We Support

Surety Bonds for a Wide Range of Businesses

SB&G works across construction, development and commercial contracting, including straightforward and more complex applicants.
Main Contractors
Performance and other contractual bonds for established principal contractors.
Subcontractors
Bond requirements for Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 subcontractors.
Developers
Section, infrastructure and contractual bond requirements for development projects.
New Companies & SPVs
New entities and SPVs can potentially be considered where the wider underwriting case is supportable.
Related Guidance
Surety Bonds for New Companies & SPVs ›
Why Use a Specialist?

Why Use a Specialist Surety Broker?

The UK surety market is not one single underwriting market. Different providers can have different appetites for financial strength, sectors, security, contract exposure and bond wording.
Wider Market Access
A specialist broker can approach markets suited to the individual applicant and requirement.
Wording Expertise
Conditional, on-demand, amended and bespoke bond wording can require different markets.
Difficult Placements
New companies, weak financials or previously declined cases may still have alternative routes.
Security Structure
Different sureties can take different views on indemnities, personal guarantees and collateral.
Surety Underwriting

What Will a Surety Assess?

Surety underwriting is case-specific, but the assessment commonly considers the company, finances, contract and bond obligation together.
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Financial accounts and current trading
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Liquidity and working capital
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Contract value and duration
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Bond value and wording
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Existing bonds and aggregate exposure
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Current workload and order book
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Management experience
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Group or parent-company support
Bond Security

Will Security Be Required?

A corporate indemnity is commonly part of a surety arrangement. Additional support can sometimes be required depending on the applicant, exposure and market.
Personal guarantees, parent-company support or cash collateral are not automatically required in every case.
Detailed Guidance
Bond Security & Surety Indemnities ›
Difficult Applications

What If a Bond Has Been Declined?

A decline from one surety does not necessarily mean the requirement is unplaceable across the entire market.
The reason for the decline should first be understood before considering whether another market may take a different view.
Detailed Guidance
Declined Surety Bonds ›
Client Feedback

Trusted by UK Contractors & Businesses

Specialist surety advice, market access and responsive support for businesses arranging contractual bonds.
 
Surety Bond Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Surety Bond?
A Surety Bond is a contractual guarantee supporting obligations owed by one party to another. The exact protection depends on the type and wording of the bond.
What types of Surety Bond can SB&G arrange?
Common requirements include Performance Bonds, Advance Payment Bonds, Section Bonds, Retention Bonds and Materials Bonds. Other commercial surety requirements can also potentially be considered.
Are Surety Bonds only used in construction?
No. Construction is a major user of surety, but bonds can also be required under other commercial contracts and obligations.
Is a Surety Bond the same as insurance?
No. Surety is distinct from conventional insurance. The applicant is underwritten and normally provides an indemnity or other agreed support behind the bond.
Can a new company obtain a Surety Bond?
Potentially. New companies and SPVs can sometimes be supported depending on funding, management, group support and the underlying requirement.
Can a company with weak financials obtain a bond?
Potentially. Losses or negative net assets do not automatically mean every market will decline the requirement. Current trading, liquidity and support may also be relevant.
Will I need a personal guarantee?
Not automatically. Security requirements depend on the applicant, exposure and surety market involved.
How long does it take to arrange a Surety Bond?
There is no universal timeframe. Straightforward cases with complete information can progress quickly, while more complex requirements may need additional underwriting.
Can SB&G arrange urgent bonds?
Potentially. Providing complete financials, contract details, bond amount and wording at the outset can help reduce avoidable delay.
Can different surety providers offer different terms?
Yes. Different providers can have different appetites for pricing, security, sectors, financial strength and bond wording.
Specialist Surety Guidance

Understand the Surety Process

Surety Underwriting
How sureties assess financial strength, contracts and exposure.
Read the Guide ›
Surety Bond Information Required
The financial, contract and bond information that may be requested.
Read the Guide ›
Bond Capacity Explained
Single-bond limits, aggregate exposure and available headroom.
Read the Guide ›
Start the Requirement

Select the Surety Bond You Need

Choose the relevant product below to reach its specialist page and enquiry route, or call SB&G to discuss an unusual requirement.
Call 02476 017 646
Surety Bond availability, pricing, security, wording and underwriting requirements vary according to the applicant, contract and surety provider. The information above is general guidance and does not constitute legal advice.

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