I have ordered a new phone from one of these websites that do offers ( they are reputable)
The contract is with orange but is there a way of getting it factory unlocked before I receive it? (I.e can the company who's sending me unlock it or orange?) Or would I have to unlock it myself by taking it into a shop or purchasing a code, once it arrives
The reason they are locked is that the price is subsidised by the network they are locked to.
What you are suggesting is that you ask them "Can you get Orange to pay for two-thirds of the phone, but unlock it as I've no intention of using it on Orange".