Whitehall’s trade department has signed an agreement with a major tech supplier to examine the possibilities of creating and implementing a new identity for use by companies across all agencies

Government is exploring the possibility of creating a unified cross-departmental system through which businesses could verify their credentials and access state services.

The Department for Business and Trade is currently undertaking a discovery exercise intended to examine the possible introduction of such a system. On 26 January, the Whitehall agency entered into a 10-week contract with Deloitte, according to a newly published contract notice.

The headline of the engagement reflects an ambition to offer firms a “one platform, one log in, digital business ID” for use across government services, while also providing departments with a “business entity directory”.

Over the coming days and weeks, the consultancy firm will work with the department to explore the possible options introducing such a platform, and the ramifications of doing so.

Related content

• One Login needs to manage risk of ‘complex roadmap and dependency on departments’, annual report finds
• One Login regains government trustmark as GDS deploys systems to prevent future lapses
• Defra retains £6m deal for customer ID system – but intends to integrate One Login

“The contract covers a 10-week discovery phase to explore options for strengthening cross-government capabilities that would allow departments to confidently verify business identity and support more streamlined business-to-government interactions,” the notice adds. “The supplier will assess existing data sources, analyse priority processes, review comparable cross government solutions, and test key assumptions to understand the feasibility and value of potential approaches.”

The deal, which runs until 3 April, will be worth £300,000 to Deloitte, the document adds.

PublicTechnology contacted DBT asking for clarification and comment on whether the discovery was examining the potential use of GOV.UK One Login – the new cross-department sign-in and verification system for citizens, or if commercial alternatives were being explored as well as or instead of the tool developed by the Government Digital Service.

In response to our enquiry – which also asked how the early-stage research might be taken forward being the initial 10-week engagement – the trade department indicated that it had nothing to add beyond the information contained in the contract notice.