£1 Billion at Stake: The Battle for UK Security Printing Contracts

The UK is navigating a pivotal moment in its national infrastructure, embarking on major security printing tenders totalling over £1 billion. These flagship programs, covering banknotes, passports, and excise-control stamps, will define the country’s currency, identity, and tax-enforcement landscape for the next decade.

Needless to say, as the government seeks to balance technological innovation with national sovereignty, competition among global security printers is reaching fever pitch.

The banknote battleground

At the heart of this procurement cycle is a £750 million (c. £900 million including VAT) tender issued by the Bank of England. This contract, published on the government’s Find a Tender platform, covers the future supply of banknotes produced at the high-security facility in Debden, Essex, currently managed by De La Rue. The submission deadline was 20 February 2026, and the award decision will be made on 1 April 2027.