French based Steria Limited has been awarded a 10 year contract worth as much as £1 billion.

The contract was awarded to Steria’s Hemel Hempstead division, the conformation follows the company being named as the Cabinet Office's preferred bidder .

The contract will see Steria deliver a new ICT framework and the delivery of business technology services, designed to achieve economies of scale and increased efficiencies.

The contract will see the creation of a new joint venture business called Shared Services Connected Ltd (SSCL), which Steria will run as a shared service with the government.

Steria said: “SSCL will invest in technologies and skills to create UK centres of excellence, which will not only improve levels of service, but will stimulate innovation, create high-value jobs and develop skills in the UK”.

The move to select Steria has angered public services unions, with members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union striking in protests of plans to outsource services as part of the contract.

Public services union to strike over outsourcing plans