NUTS Code

A NUTS code (Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics) identifies a geographic region for statistical and procurement purposes, used in UK and EU contract notices to specify where work will be delivered.

What a NUTS Code Is

NUTS codes are a hierarchical geocoding system developed by Eurostat to divide economic territories into comparable statistical units. In procurement, they appear in contract notices to identify the location where goods, services, or works will be delivered. A buyer completing a Find a Tender Service (FTS) or Contracts Finder notice must select the appropriate code for the place of performance.

The hierarchy runs from broad to specific: - NUTS 1 – major regions (e.g. UKH – East of England) - NUTS 2 – sub-regions (e.g. UKH1 – Hertfordshire) - NUTS 3 – local areas (e.g. UKH11 – Broxbourne)

UK NUTS Codes Post-Brexit

Following the UK's departure from the EU, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) maintains the UK's own NUTS classification. The current UK NUTS 2021 classification, effective from 1 January 2021, introduced revised boundaries. UK codes retain the "UK" prefix (e.g. UKI – London), distinguishing them from EU member state codes.

For Northern Ireland, some statistical frameworks retain alignment with EU classifications under the Windsor Framework, so practitioners should verify which classification applies to cross-border contracts.

Use in Contract Notices

When publishing a notice on the Find a Tender Service — the UK's replacement for the OJEU following the Procurement Act 2023 — contracting authorities must specify the NUTS code for the place of performance. Selecting the correct level of granularity helps suppliers filter opportunities by geography and supports spend analysis across the public sector.

For contracts delivered across multiple regions, more than one code may be entered.

Practical Points

• Use the ONS NUTS 2021 lookup tool to find the correct code before publishing a notice.
• Choosing too broad a code (e.g. NUTS 1 when NUTS 3 applies) reduces the value of geographic filtering for suppliers.
• Some legacy systems and frameworks still reference pre-2021 NUTS boundaries; check which version a portal requires.
• NUTS codes are distinct from LAU (Local Administrative Unit) codes, which operate at district or council level and are not used in procurement notices.