A new digital marketplace is being built by the UK Government to transform how the country’s public sector buys technology, helping save over £1 billion in annual savings, clinch back time, and provide public servants with the power to rate suppliers.

The “National Digital Exchange” (NDX) platform aims to allow teams across the public sector to access pre-approved tech deals at nationally negotiated prices, with an AI-powered engine that matches them with suppliers based on what they actually need—and all in a matter of hours.

The platform, which is currently in early development, is being specifically designed to open the market to more UK tech firms, with a target to boost small business involvement in government contracts by 40% within 3 years.

It follows the State of Digital Government report, which warned that 209 NHS secondary care organisations and 320 local councils go it alone when negotiating tech contracts, despite widely using similar tools—missing out of essential bargaining power. Further, only 38% of public sector leaders said their organisations were able to track and make sure their tech suppliers were delivering proper value for their services.

With NDX, users will be able to rate and review what they’ve bought, lifting the lid on which tools have delivered, and where promises haven’t matched performance. This thereby creates a platform comparable to an app store for the technology that underpins the British state and essential public services.

“We’ve all heard the stories – months of red tape, tech that doesn’t deliver, and money wasted. That’s not good enough for the people we serve,” said Feryal Clark, minister for AI and digital government.

“The National Digital Exchange aims to change that. It will make it faster, fairer, and focused on what works – with real reviews, upfront pricing and smart AI to match buyers with the right suppliers in hours.

“It’s a clear example of our Plan for Change in action: cutting waste, boosting innovation, and backing British tech to deliver better public services.”

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The government said that the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology is working closely with organisations like techUK, helping to ensure that the platform reflects the needs of both buyers and suppliers.

The announcement comes ahead of London Tech Week, where the role of digital innovation in transforming public services will be in the spotlight.