UK Swaps Green Contract Rules for Youth Job Mandate in £90bn Procurement Overhaul

When companies bid for UK government contracts worth about £90bn yearly, they previously had to show environmental and social benefits. Now those green requirements are gone. Instead, firms must help young people find work. First Secretary of State Louise Haigh announced the change on August 4, 2026. Greenpeace UK and Friends of the Earth criticised the swap. A Labour source said the government expects pushback.