Recommendation 27

Despite advances made since the publication of the Procurement Policy Note in 2015, UK steel producers are still encountering challenges when competing for and securing public contracts. Much of this is due to an opaque and informal approach taken to steel procurement by contracting authorities and action is needed from the Government to make this process more transparent. Furthermore, a lack of transparency in steel supply chains together with an absence of explicit guidance on how social and environmental considerations should be applied has meant that broader objectives are being missed. Public procurement of steel has the potential to deliver wider benefits and further action is needed to ensure that the full value offered by UK steel producers is taken into account when supplying steel into public projects.