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Essex County Council: spending over £500

Last updated . Figures refresh every night. How each figure is worked out.

Essex County Council published 259,305 payments of £500 or more between September 2025 and August 2026, worth £2.94bn in all, to 6,290 suppliers. The largest total went to RINGWAY JACOBS LTD: £169.8m across 1690 payments. These are the council's own published records; the gaps in them are listed below.

Key figures

  • £2.94bnPaid in payments of £500 or more, latest year
  • 259,305Payments
  • 6,290Suppliers
  • 12 of 12Months with payments published

What the council published

  1. Septpublished
  2. Octpublished
  3. Novpublished
  4. Decpublished
  5. Janpublished
  6. Febpublished
  7. Marpublished
  8. Aprpublished
  9. Maypublished
  10. Junpublished
  11. Julpublished
  12. Augpublished

Gaps and problems in the data, as published:

  • The council publishes every payment, whatever its size; payments under £500 are left out here so councils compare on the same footing.
  • 6364 credits and refunds (negative amounts, £97,925,889 in all) are included, so totals are net.

Top 50 suppliers by value

Essex County Council: the 50 suppliers paid most, September 2025 to August 2026
SupplierPaidPayments
RINGWAY JACOBS LTD
Details
£169,831,1911,690
Payments
1,690
SOUTHEND ON SEA CITY COUNCIL
Details
£101,759,832166
Payments
166
ESSEX PFCC FRA
Details
£75,393,61717
Payments
17
DIRECT PAYMENT
Details
£71,626,99528,258
Payments
28,258
RUNWOOD HOMES LTD
Details
£45,787,243681
Payments
681
HCRG CARE SERVICES LTD
Details
£41,898,88443
Payments
43
MITIE LTD
Details
£41,870,269597
Payments
597
INDAVER RIVENHALL LTD
Details
£38,780,067118
Payments
118
ESSEX CARES LTD
Details
£35,610,129226
Payments
226
24 X 7 LTD
Details
£28,511,965472
Payments
472
PROVIDE COMMUNITY INTEREST COMPANY
Details
£27,473,07574
Payments
74
TRAINING BURSARY
Details
£25,925,3716,029
Payments
6,029
OCTAVIUS INFRASTRUCTURE LTD
Details
£22,709,79748
Payments
48
EAST SUFFOLK & NORTH ESSEX NHS FT
Details
£20,442,41052
Payments
52
PAYMENT TO INDIVIDUAL
Details
£19,586,7274,047
Payments
4,047
LEE VALLEY REGIONAL PARK AUTHORITY
Details
£17,819,96612
Payments
12
FIRST ESSEX BUSES LTD
Details
£17,315,09191
Payments
91
MORGAN SINDALL CONSTRUCTION & INFRA LTD
Details
£17,005,87728
Payments
28
MEDEQUIP ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY LTD
Details
£15,974,55321
Payments
21
DE VERE CARE PARTNERSHIP LTD
Details
£15,228,6535,999
Payments
5,999
NHS MID AND SOUTH ESSEX ICB
Details
£14,426,275148
Payments
148
MATRIX SCM LTD
Details
£14,329,7998,597
Payments
8,597
NORTH EAST LONDON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
Details
£12,863,65226
Payments
26
NHS ESSEX ICB
Details
£12,529,40520
Payments
20
PEABODY TRUST
Details
£12,481,6911,544
Payments
1,544
ESSEX PARTNERSHIP UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
Details
£12,460,003107
Payments
107
ESSEX SCHOOLS LTD
Details
£12,385,69641
Payments
41
BEAUCHAMPS HIGH SCHOOL
Details
£10,945,38340
Payments
40
TLC CARE HOMES LTD
Details
£10,860,914501
Payments
501
LAMBERT SMITH HAMPTON
Details
£10,819,86336
Payments
36
ONE OFF NON INVOICE
Details
£9,810,364740
Payments
740
THERA EAST
Details
£9,238,0781,359
Payments
1,359
FOSTER CARE PAYMENT
Details
£8,999,00112,240
Payments
12,240
ST JOHN PAYNE CATHOLIC COMPREHENSIVE SCH
Details
£8,731,64934
Payments
34
COUNTYROUTE (A130) PLC
Details
£8,634,11824
Payments
24
GLENWOOD SCHOOL
Details
£8,350,31653
Payments
53
MINI CAB SERVICES COLCHESTER LTD
Details
£8,064,85751
Payments
51
QED (CLACTON) LTD
Details
£7,872,65120
Payments
20
KONECTBUS LTD
Details
£7,773,320109
Payments
109
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
Details
£7,702,12570
Payments
70
PLUME SCHOOL
Details
£7,693,95451
Payments
51
ZERO THREE CARE HOMES LLP
Details
£7,546,543189
Payments
189
ACHIEVE TOGETHER LTD
Details
£7,395,471560
Payments
560
CHELMSFORD CITY COUNCIL
Details
£7,357,542159
Payments
159
STEPHENSONS OF ESSEX LTD
Details
£7,066,55057
Payments
57
CFT CARE LTD
Details
£7,040,052706
Payments
706
CARE UK COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS LTD
Details
£6,958,876141
Payments
141
BOUYGUES (UK) LTD
Details
£6,664,4808
Payments
8
THE BECKMEAD TRUST
Details
£6,601,62761
Payments
61
LIVING AMBITIONS LTD
Details
£6,566,900929
Payments
929

Spending by category (our classification)

Payments this site classifies into each category from the supplier and the council's description; most payments fall into none. The rules are on the methodology page.

Essex County Council: payments by category (our classification)
Show as a table
Essex County Council: payments by category (our classification)
NamePaid
1. Payments to other councils and public bodies£249,352,424
2. Large outsourcing and contracting firms£234,809,127
3. Consultancy and agency staff£29,171,524
4. IT and software£12,388,894
5. Legal fees£1,268,033
6. Travel and accommodation£1,264,907
7. Communications and PR£1,134,574
8. Payment card spending£974,215
9. Catering and hospitality£63,507
10. Conferences and events£3,337
Payment card spending: largest suppliers

Payments the council marks as made by purchase or credit card, where its file says so.

  1. PCC* HAPPICABS: £48,794 (56 payments)
  2. ONE4ALL: £30,005 (30 payments)
  3. BKG*HOTEL AT BOOKING.C: £29,269 (28 payments)
  4. ARGOS LTD: £26,743 (37 payments)
  5. SRA: £19,265 (1 payment)
  6. CURRYS ONLINE: £18,081 (25 payments)
  7. AO.COM: £14,571 (20 payments)
  8. IKEA LTD SHOP ONLINE: £13,979 (13 payments)
  9. AMZNMKTPLACE: £11,854 (17 payments)
  10. HOTEL AT BOOKING.COM: £11,351 (10 payments)
Payments to other councils and public bodies: largest suppliers

The supplier is another council, a police, fire or NHS body, a government department or agency, or a pension fund.

  1. SOUTHEND ON SEA CITY COUNCIL: £101,759,832 (166 payments)
  2. EAST SUFFOLK & NORTH ESSEX NHS FT: £20,442,410 (52 payments)
  3. NHS MID AND SOUTH ESSEX ICB: £14,426,275 (148 payments)
  4. NORTH EAST LONDON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST: £12,863,652 (26 payments)
  5. NHS ESSEX ICB: £12,529,405 (20 payments)
  6. ESSEX PARTNERSHIP UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST: £12,460,003 (107 payments)
  7. ENVIRONMENT AGENCY: £7,702,125 (70 payments)
  8. CHELMSFORD CITY COUNCIL: £7,357,042 (158 payments)
  9. BASILDON COUNCIL: £5,841,046 (153 payments)
  10. BRAINTREE DISTRICT COUNCIL: £5,723,111 (149 payments)
Large outsourcing and contracting firms: largest suppliers

The supplier is one of a named list of large firms that run council services under contract. A payment to one is often a routine instalment on a long contract.

  1. RINGWAY JACOBS LTD: £169,831,191 (1690 payments)
  2. MITIE LTD: £41,870,269 (597 payments)
  3. MORGAN SINDALL CONSTRUCTION & INFRA LTD: £17,005,877 (28 payments)
  4. CAPITA BUSINESS SERVICES LTD: £3,035,495 (52 payments)
  5. KIER CONSTRUCTION LTD: £2,390,658 (5 payments)
  6. GLENDALE RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME LTD: £558,819 (13 payments)
  7. AGILISYS LTD: £96,000 (1 payment)
  8. BIFFA WASTE SERVICES LTD: £20,818 (30 payments)
Legal fees: largest suppliers

The supplier is a law firm or chambers, or the council describes the payment as legal fees, counsel or court fees.

  1. SHARPE PRITCHARD LLP: £829,780 (41 payments)
  2. HOLMES & HILLS SOLICITORS: £162,068 (3 payments)
  3. PAUL ROBINSON SOLICITORS LLP: £81,360 (2 payments)
  4. H C CHAMBERS & SON LTD: £75,491 (17 payments)
  5. ESSEX CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY: £42,600 (4 payments)
  6. PINSENT MASONS LLP: £30,408 (2 payments)
  7. FORBES SOLICITORS LLP: £16,139 (10 payments)
  8. BROWNE JACOBSON LLP: £12,425 (5 payments)
  9. ANTHONY COLLINS SOLICITORS LLP: £7,200 (1 payment)
  10. WILKIN CHAPMAN LLP: £5,557 (4 payments)
Consultancy and agency staff: largest suppliers

The supplier is a recruitment agency or consultancy on a named list, or the council describes the payment as consultancy, agency or interim staff, or professional fees.

  1. MATRIX SCM LTD: £14,329,799 (8597 payments)
  2. BLOOM PROCUREMENT SERVICES LTD: £2,908,094 (118 payments)
  3. PROACTIVE MEDICARE: £1,632,559 (719 payments)
  4. COLCHESTER INSTITUTE: £1,205,000 (2 payments)
  5. DYNAMIC NEW ANGLIAN NETWORKS: £746,157 (68 payments)
  6. HEALTHWATCH ESSEX LTD: £504,500 (17 payments)
  7. ERNST & YOUNG LLP: £477,665 (4 payments)
  8. LETS DO BUSINESS (SOUTH EAST) GROUP LIMITED: £458,654 (13 payments)
  9. CHELMSFORD CHURCHES HOMELESS SUPPORT SCHEME CHESS: £331,800 (6 payments)
  10. FIRST ESSEX BUSES LTD: £257,000 (1 payment)
IT and software: largest suppliers

The supplier is on a named list of IT and telecoms firms, or the council describes the payment as software, licences, IT, hardware, hosting or telephony.

  1. PHOENIX SOFTWARE LTD: £4,381,978 (43 payments)
  2. CDW LTD: £3,872,454 (65 payments)
  3. INSIGHT DIRECT (UK) LTD: £2,048,018 (40 payments)
  4. BT PLC: £601,369 (17 payments)
  5. DAISY CHAIN NURSERY: £463,364 (20 payments)
  6. BYTES SOFTWARE SERVICES LTD: £234,081 (3 payments)
  7. MICROSOFT LTD: £223,905 (1 payment)
  8. XMA LIMITED: £149,038 (12 payments)
  9. VIRGIN MEDIA LTD: £124,616 (6 payments)
  10. MOSAIC FOSTER CARE LTD: £78,214 (12 payments)
Communications and PR: largest suppliers

The council describes the payment as advertising, marketing, publicity or public relations. Recruitment and statutory notices are left out.

  1. PEOPLESCOUT LTD: £751,011 (142 payments)
  2. BLUE TIGER MARKETING LTD: £146,779 (9 payments)
  3. FOUR AGENCY WORLDWIDE LTD: £63,740 (10 payments)
  4. RANCH CREATIVE LTD: £31,980 (8 payments)
  5. SME HCI LTD: £25,653 (1 payment)
  6. NEWSQUEST MEDIA GROUP LTD: £24,450 (8 payments)
  7. ENGLAND'S COAST COMMUNITY INTEREST COMPANY: £10,850 (1 payment)
  8. ALUPRO: £9,999 (1 payment)
  9. JW PRESS LTD: £9,938 (8 payments)
  10. DEADLINE COMMUNICATIONS LTD: £7,850 (2 payments)
Conferences and events: largest suppliers

The council describes the payment as a conference, seminar, exhibition, event or venue hire.

  1. ONE OFF NON INVOICE: £2,000 (1 payment)
  2. ECC EMPLOYEE: £1,337 (1 payment)
Travel and accommodation: largest suppliers

The council describes the payment as travel, fares, flights, subsistence or hotels. Homeless and temporary accommodation, and home to school and client transport, are left out.

  1. NON EMPLOYEE EXPENSE: £1,104,548 (773 payments)
  2. ONE OFF CORONERS EXPENSES: £50,298 (23 payments)
  3. ONE OFF TRAVEL EXPENSES: £24,135 (20 payments)
  4. SOFTWAREONE UK LTD: £19,133 (2 payments)
  5. FIRST ESSEX BUSES LTD: £16,427 (10 payments)
  6. ONE OFF NON INVOICE: £13,441 (8 payments)
  7. ONE OFF UNDER £10K: £8,522 (1 payment)
  8. AJS AND AMBER TAXI LTD: £6,096 (2 payments)
  9. STEPHENSONS OF ESSEX LTD: £6,065 (1 payment)
  10. CHILDRENS SOCIAL CARE HARLOW 01375313: £5,063 (2 payments)
Catering and hospitality: largest suppliers

The council describes the payment as catering, hospitality or refreshments. School meals are left out.

  1. NISBETS PLC: £23,239 (5 payments)
  2. S&K HOSPITALITY LTD: £7,425 (3 payments)
  3. LAMBRO REFRIGERATION LTD: £7,174 (6 payments)
  4. SARAHS CATERING LTD: £5,816 (8 payments)
  5. DOWN HALL HOTEL LTD: £3,736 (2 payments)
  6. HOBART UK: £3,017 (2 payments)
  7. JP S KITCHEN LTD: £1,972 (1 payment)
  8. CHELMSFORD DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE: £1,500 (1 payment)
  9. ONE OFF UNDER £10K: £1,445 (1 payment)
  10. MARKSHALL ESTATE: £1,379 (1 payment)

Spending by the council's own service areas

Essex County Council: payments by service area, as the council labels them
Show as a table
Essex County Council: payments by service area, as the council labels them
NamePaid
1. ADULT SOCIAL CARE£856,862,925
2. EDUCATION - DSG£831,493,520
3. CENTRAL & OTH OPERATING COSTS£271,778,305
4. CHILDREN & FAMILIES NON-DSG£221,476,023
5. CLIMATE ENV & CUST SERV£177,997,058
6. NDR POOL E2£170,184,358
7. PLACE AND CUSTOMER£88,489,095
8. BETTER CARE FUND£81,786,051
9. POLICY PEOPLE ECONOMY & PH NDSG£77,252,180
10. CHILDREN & FAMILIES DSG£49,450,273
11. EDUCATION - NON DSG£39,248,752
12. CORPORATE SERVICES£37,795,603
13. POOLED BUDGET£15,974,553
14. SAFER ESSEX ROADS PARTNERSHIP E2£8,715,742
15. POLICY PEOPLE ECONOMY & PH DSG£3,408,251
16. TRADED - SOCIAL CARE & EDUCATION£1,275,524
17. TRANSFORMING CARE POOLED BUDG£799,319
18. TRADED - CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT£673,222
19. CHILDRENS SERVICES NON DSG£436,130
20. ESSEX COUNTY TRAVELLER UNIT E2£401,666
21. FIN, RES AND CORP AFF RSSS£105,820
22. COMM, EQUAL, PARTNER AND PERF£91,930
23. HEALTH AND ADULT SOCIAL CARE£91,246
24. DEVOL, ART HERIT AND CULTURE£72,132
25. EDU EXCEL, SKILLS AND TRAIN NON DSG£44,486

Who is paid for grounds, street cleaning, roads and bins?

The suppliers paid most for each kind of work, where the council's own labels say what the payment was for (our matching). A council that does the work with its own staff pays mostly wages, which are not in this data, so a short list here can mean the work is done in-house.

Parks and open spaces (including play areas): largest suppliers
Show as a table
Parks and open spaces (including play areas): largest suppliers
NamePaid
1. ROMAN RIVER TREES LTD£380,216
2. CHELMSFORD CITY COUNCIL£274,621
3. FARM & COUNTRY SUPPLIES LTD£232,336
4. EPPING FOREST DISTRICT COUNCIL£161,900
5. BRAINTREE DISTRICT COUNCIL£151,253
6. CASTLE POINT BOROUGH COUNCIL£133,320
7. ASCENDING ARBS TREE SERVICES LTD£122,976
8. MALDON DISTRICT COUNCIL£114,766
9. MERCER TREE SERVICES LTD£105,555
10. ROCHFORD DISTRICT COUNCIL£100,581
Waste collection: largest suppliers
Show as a table
Waste collection: largest suppliers
NamePaid
1. ENVAR COMPOSTING LTD£14,955
2. CHELMSFORD CITY COUNCIL£860

Consultancy and agency against the pay bill

Payments we classify as consultancy and agency staff came to 4.0% of Essex County Council's own staff costs in its 2025-26 revenue return, against a median of 2.7% for the other county councils read so far. The payments and the staff costs come from different sources and periods, so this is a guide to scale.

What this data does and doesn't show

  • It is the council's own record of payments of £500 or more. It leaves out salaries, most staff costs and many internal costs, so it is not the council's whole spending.
  • Descriptions are the council's own and vary in quality; some are codes, some are blank, and some supplier names are withheld to protect individuals.
  • A large payment to one supplier is often a routine instalment on a long contract that was tendered openly.
  • The categories and the matching to services are this site's classification from keywords, not the council's. The rules are on the methodology page.

Sources

Essex County Council, spending over £500, published here. Licence as the council states it: Open Government Licence v3.0. Checked 2026-09-24; files read 2026-09-29.

Every file read (5)

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