News source: The Guardian, 17 February 2026

The Government’s Single Trade Window programme was intended to simplify international trade by providing a digital system through which businesses could submit information needed for border processes.

In February 2026, it was reported that the programme had been closed after approximately £110 million had been spent, without delivering an operational system.

The project involved major technology suppliers, including Deloitte and IBM.

For us procurement and contract management professionals, the case illustrates the importance of establishing clear requirements, delivery milestones, integration responsibilities and acceptance criteria before committing substantial expenditure.

The reported outcome does not establish that poor specifications alone caused the programme’s failure. Nevertheless, it raises important questions about how complex digital requirements are developed, validated and managed.

The commercial lesson: A technology specification must describe measurable business outcomes, interfaces, testing requirements and acceptance criteria. Paying for development activity is not the same as securing an operational service.

I believe that every major deliverable should have clear acceptance criteria and evidence requirements, supported by appropriate payment milestones and governance arrangements.

Source: The Guardian: Single Trade Window project closure.

These issues and more are covered in my Developing Effective Specifications and Scopes of Work course on 14th December 2026. This popular course is also available as a tailored in-house event.

Check out our Developing Effective Specifications and Scopes of Work course.