UKAEA Awards £10 Billion STEP Construction Partner Contract to ILIOS
15 Jun 2026
The UK’s ambitious clean energy programme has reached a significant milestone with the award of the STEP Construction Partner contract by the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). The contract, valued at approximately £10 billion, has been awarded to ILIOS, marking a major development in the delivery of the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) initiative in the United Kingdom.Major Contract Award for UK Fusion Energy ProgrammeAccording to the published contract award notice, UKAEA selected ILIOS as the STEP Construction Partner for one of the country's most strategically important energy infrastructure projects. The contract was formally awarded on 2 April 2026 and will run until 31 March 2029.The procurement was managed by UKAEA from its Culham Campus headquarters in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The contract covers construction partnership services supporting the STEP programme, which aims to advance fusion energy technology and position the UK as a global leader in sustainable power generation.With a reported contract value of £10 billion, the award represents one of the most substantial government-backed energy and infrastructure contracts announced in recent years.Project Scope and Strategic ImportanceThe STEP programme is designed to demonstrate the commercial viability of fusion energy, a technology widely regarded as a potential long-term solution for delivering low-carbon, large-scale electricity generation. The construction partner will play a critical role in supporting project planning, engineering coordination, infrastructure development, and delivery activities associated with the programme.The contract is applicable across the United Kingdom and is expected to generate significant economic benefits through supply chain opportunities, job creation, engineering innovation, and investment in advanced energy technologies.Winning Contractor: ILIOSILIOS, headquartered in Salford, United Kingdom, secured the contract following a competitive procurement process. The company's appointment highlights its capabilities in delivering large-scale infrastructure and construction management services for complex projects.The award further strengthens ILIOS' position within the UK's infrastructure and energy sectors, particularly as government investment in next-generation energy technologies continues to expand.Looking AheadAs the STEP programme moves into its next phase, the partnership between UKAEA and ILIOS is expected to accelerate progress toward the UK's fusion energy ambitions. The project will be closely watched by industry stakeholders, policymakers, and investors as a potential blueprint for future clean energy infrastructure developments.The contract award underscores the government's commitment to innovation, energy security, and achieving long-term net-zero objectives through advanced nuclear fusion technologies.#UKAEA, #STEP Construction Partner, #STEP Project, #Fusion Energy UK, #United Kingdom Contract Award, #Government Contracts UK, #Infrastructure Procurement, #Awarded Tenders, #Energy Infrastructure, #Nuclear Fusion Project, #Construction Contract, #Procurement News UK, #ILIOS, #Clean Energy Projects, #Public Sector Procurement, #UK Energy Sector, #Engineering Contracts, #Fusion Technology, #Contract Award News, #Tender Results UK
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Post Office Awards £70 Million Payment Processing Contract to Global Payments Across England and Northern Ireland
25 Nov 2025
The Post Office has given GPUK LLP, doing business as Global Payments, a £70 million contract in a major step towards modernising payment infrastructure. The agreement, which started on November 9, 2025, and lasts for five years, ending on November 8, 2030, permits safe debit and credit card transactions at Post Office locations and unattended point-of-sale terminals. It also supports other online and phone payment options.Details of the Contract Banking Services Industry (66110000) Reference for procurement: C103711 Type of Contract: Service Agreement Type of Procedure: CCS Framework Agreement RM6325, Lot 1, Payment Acceptance 2 Call-off Value in total: £70,000,000. Beginning on November 9, 2025 Deadline: November 8, 2030 England and Northern Ireland are the locations A call-off from a framework agreement guarantees a streamlined procurement process while guaranteeing high-quality service delivery by enabling the Post Office to either directly purchase services from a pre-established framework or hold a mini-competition.Service ScopeThe agreement includes all-inclusive payment acceptance options, such as: Card transactions at Post Office branches in person Unattended transactions at the POS terminal Payments via the Post Office website and apps on mobile devicesOver-the-phone transactions Improving customer convenience, lowering transaction errors, and offering a safe, dependable platform for millions of transactions a year are the goals.Organisations Concerned Supplier of Choice: GPUK LLP, doing business as Global Payments Address: Syston, Leicester, LE7 1PL, Granite House, Granite Way Business House Number: OC337146 Status of SME: No VCSE Situation: Not Purchaser: Post Office-Purchasing Address: London, EC2V 7ER, 100 Wood Street After a desktop evaluation under the CCS framework, Global Payments was chosen as the most economically advantageous tender, emphasising its technical capability, dependability, and experience with large-scale payment processing.Important from a Strategic PerspectiveIn order to ensure smooth payment operations across Post Office branches and digital channels, this contract is essential. The Post Office increases productivity, customer satisfaction, and the security of financial transactions by integrating contemporary point-of-sale systems with online and mobile platforms.The Post Office will be able to adjust to the increasing demand for digital and contactless payment solutions thanks to Global Payments' expertise in payment technology, which will support scalability and future upgrades. The agreement demonstrates the UK government's dedication to adopting digital financial infrastructure and modernising public services.Final ThoughtsNow that the contract has been awarded, the Post Office and Global Payments will spend the next five years building a strong, safe, and user-friendly payment ecosystem. The Post Office is better positioned to meet changing customer expectations and technological standards thanks to this award, which highlights the strategic significance of dependable payment processing in the provision of public services.UKTenders most recent government tenders and contract awards in the UKUKTenders is your reliable source for the most recent UK government contract awards, RFPs, RFQs, and tenders Visit UKTenders to stay informed about the most recent public procurement opportunities and tender notices in the United Kingdom UKTenders has all UK government tenders, eProcurement updates, and contract award notificationsUse UKTenders, the UKTenders portal, to view live tenders, bids, and procurement opportunities in the United KingdomVerified tenders, procurement news, and contract awards from the UK are all provided by UKTenders#PostOfficeUK #PaymentProcessing #GlobalPayments #UKContracts #ProcurementNews #BankingServices #FinancialTechnology #CCSFramework #CardPayments #DigitalPaymentsUK #POSPayments #ServiceContract #England #NorthernIreland #GovernmentContracts
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