HMRC continues multi-billion pound contracts with French firm Capgemini despite UK buy-British pledge
HMRC has paid Capgemini at least £4.2 billion since 2014, and new contracts could keep the partnership alive until 2036.
Data from public-procurement records reveal that HMRC has spent at least £4.2 billion on Capgemini since the original Aspire contract began in 2014, covering more than 15,000 transactions. Despite the UK government’s pledge to back British industry, Capgemini continues to win large contracts, such as a £200 million data-warehouse migration deal and a £600 million contact-center agreement that could extend the relationship to 2036.
HMRC officials maintain that the awards follow procurement legislation and aim to increase competition and resilience. The Aspire programme, once the largest IT spend for HMRC, is being replaced through the Technology Sourcing Programme and a shift toward smaller, more flexible contracts. Nonetheless, legacy system support contracts worth hundreds of millions of pounds remain with Capgemini and other overseas incumbents.
Why it matters
It shows how a major UK tax agency still relies on foreign suppliers despite a policy push for domestic procurement.
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