Surety Bonds for UK Contractors, Developers & Local Authorities
Performance, Advance Payment and Road & Sewer Bonds. Access to specialist surety markets. Indicative terms typically within 24 hours.
- Specialist Surety Markets
- Accepted by Local Authorities & Employers
- Indicative Terms within 24hrs*
- Fast-Track for Contract Deadlines*
- FCA Authorised and Regulated Broker
Get Your Surety Quote
Tell us about your project – we’ll come back to you.
Specialist Surety Markets
Dedicated capacity for construction bonds
Accepted by Local Authorities & Employers
Meets contract and adoption requirements
Indicative Terms within 24hrs*
*Subject to satisfactory information & underwriting
Fast-Track Assessment*
*Subject to underwriting review
FCA Authorised and Regulated Broker
What is Surety?
Financial Guarantees for Construction Contracts
A surety bond provides a financial guarantee that a contractor will meet their obligations under a construction contract — protecting the employer, funder, or local authority if the contractor fails to deliver.
It’s primarily used where a contract, lender, or local authority requires financial assurance before work begins or before infrastructure is adopted — covering Performance, Advance Payment, and Road & Sewer obligations across residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects.
Unlike traditional insurance, a surety bond is a three-way financial guarantee between contractor, employer, and surety provider — protecting cash flow while giving all parties confidence the contract will be honoured.
A bond is often treated as a formality of contract award. In reality it’s a commercially sensitive decision — handled correctly it protects cash flow, satisfies contractual obligations, and keeps your project moving.
Checkmate’s in-house technical team and long-standing relationships with specialist surety providers mean we can position your project effectively within the surety market.
Bond types available
Indicative terms*
Authorised & regulated broker
Who it's for
Built for contractors, developers & local authorities
Contractors
Securing performance or advance payment bonds as a condition of contract award — for projects of any scale, requiring bond security acceptable to employers and funders.
Developers
Arranging road and sewer bonds ahead of local authority adoption, or performance bonds for employer and funder assurance across residential, commercial, and mixed-use schemes.
Local Authorities & Public Bodies
Requiring bond assurance before adopting new roads, sewers, or infrastructure delivered as part of a development — protection if the developer or contractor doesn’t complete the works.
What's covered
What a Checkmate Surety Bond covers
Checkmate surety bonds provide financial protection against a contractor’s failure to meet their contractual obligations — whether that’s completing the works, repaying funds advanced upfront, or delivering infrastructure to an adoptable standard.
Cover runs for the duration of the contract or until the specific obligation is discharged — for example, until practical completion for a Performance Bond, or until infrastructure adoption for a Road & Sewer Bond.
Bond types available
- Performance Bonds
- Advance Payment Bonds
- Road & Sewer Bonds
- Bid / Tender Bonds
- Retention Bonds
What Surety does not cover
A surety bond is not a traditional insurance policy and does not respond in the same way. It does not cover events unrelated to the contractor’s own performance. Whether cover applies will depend on the specific bond wording and contract terms.
The process
Getting your Surety quote in three steps
Tell us what you need
Complete the short form above — bond type, contract value and timeline. Takes under two minutes.
We approach the market
Our in-house technical team reviews your project and approaches our specialist surety provider panel on your behalf.
Receive indicative terms
Compare terms, confirm cover, and receive your bond documentation — ready to satisfy your contract or lender condition.
Why Checkmate
Three reasons developers choose us
In-house technical expertise
Our in-house team and experienced specialists provide support throughout the underwriting and bond process — from initial assessment to bond issuance.
Fast, Contract-Ready Turnaround
Indicative terms within 24 hours, often the same day — built around the reality that bonds are frequently needed against a contract deadline.
Established. Recognised. Trusted.
Built on track record, not promises. Checkmate is an established name in the UK construction insurance and surety market. Our long-standing relationships with specialist surety providers and our reputation for technical rigour mean your project is presented to underwriters by people who are known and respected in the market.
Contract deadline approaching?
Fast-Track Bonds — for time-sensitive contracts
If you’re up against a tender deadline or have just been asked to provide a bond, Checkmate can fast-track an assessment so your contract isn’t held up waiting on financial security.
Subject to underwriting review and project-specific criteria. Speak to our team for an initial assessment.
Ready to get covered?
Get your Surety Bond quote today
Fill in the form above or speak directly to our team. FCA regulated.