# Just 15.4% of UK government tech spending reaches British firms

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/uks-buy-british-tech-ambitions-hit-reality-as-less-than-1-in-6-stays-at-home/
- Published: 2026-11-11T09:15:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-11T09:36:08+00:00
- Original publisher: The Register
- Original article: https://www.theregister.com/public-sector/2026/11/11/uks-buy-british-tech-ambitions-hit-reality-as-less-than-1-in-6-stays-at-home/5308814
- Topics: UK, World

## Key points

- Just 15.4% of major government tech spending reaches British firms.
- US companies receive £9.2 billion through the largest suppliers.
- IPPR calls for stronger bargaining power and easier supplier switching.

## Summary

An IPPR report found that only 15.4% of the UK government’s spending with its 150 largest technology suppliers ultimately reaches British firms. The findings highlight Whitehall’s reliance on overseas technology and raise concerns about competition, supplier choice and the UK’s access to advanced AI.

UK-headquartered suppliers appear to receive 42.5% of this spending, but researchers say much of it flows abroad through overseas ownership, staff or resale of foreign products. The US receives £9.2 billion of the £19.2 billion spent with the largest suppliers; 150 firms take 83% of the total, while 89.9% of recent IT contracts lack published bid-count records. The report recommends joint purchasing, easier supplier switching and co-operation with other countries.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.