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The Provision of Legal Services to The City of Liverpool College Group

The City of Liverpool College

This public procurement record has 5 releases in its history.

Award

31 Jul 2026 at 09:34

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

11 Jun 2026 at 12:09

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

20 Mar 2026 at 13:41

UK4 - Tender Notice
PlanningUpdate

17 Feb 2026 at 11:17

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Planning

17 Feb 2026 at 10:57

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The City of Liverpool College Group procured ongoing legal services to keep the college and its group companies legally compliant. The appointed provider supplies practical advice, guidance and support across employment and HR matters, including recruitment, contracts of employment, disciplinary and grievance cases, capability, redundancies, discrimination, settlement agreements, TUPE, pensions, data protection, freedom of information, whistleblowing, overseas-worker sponsorship and visas. The service also includes employment-law training for managers and the HR team, regular meetings with senior HR staff, performance-management reviews with senior managers, and advice to the Executive, senior leadership and governors. A senior partner acts as the single relationship manager, coordinates specialist advice, provides round-the-clock support and advocacy at tribunal hearings. Delivery is for the College Group in Liverpool and its group companies.

This procurement is complete and was awarded to HILL DICKINSON LLP on 11 June 2026, following an open competitive flexible procedure with a two-stage pass/fail element. Eleven bids were received and three reached the final stage. The award and signed contract are for £800,000 excluding VAT and £960,000 including VAT. The contract was signed on 30 July 2026 and runs from 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2029, with one optional further year available until 31 July 2030. The award followed a standstill period ending 23 June 2026. The single lot was evaluated on quality at 60%, price at 25%, added value at 10%, and environmental, corporate responsibility and equality, diversity and inclusion factors at 5%. The opportunity was identified as suitable for SMEs.

This requirement demonstrates recurring demand from a further-education college group for a broad employment-law and HR legal service, rather than narrowly focused legal advice. A credible competitor would need experienced employment solicitors able to advise on the full employee lifecycle, including recruitment, terms and conditions, disciplinary and grievance procedures, capability, discrimination, redundancies, settlement agreements, TUPE, pensions, data protection, freedom of information, whistleblowing, sponsorship and visas. The buyer also values practical training for managers and HR staff, structured performance reviews and responsive relationship management. Suppliers should be able to provide a senior partner as a single point of contact, coordinate specialist support, respond around the clock to senior stakeholders, understand further education and intervention processes, attend governor meetings when required, and represent the client at employment tribunals.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

The Provision of Legal Services to The City of Liverpool College Group

Notice Description

3.1 The appointed Legal Services Provider will be required to satisfy the Executive and the Board of Governors that they will provide an appropriate level of legal advice, guidance and support to ensure that the college group remains fully legally compliant in all aspects of its work. 3.2 The Legal Services Provider of The City of Liverpool College and its Group will be appointed by the Corporation Board; the appointment will be for an initial period of 3 years with an optional further 1 x year extension. The contract will however be subject to review after a 2 year period with an opportunity for a break in the contract to be applied at that time. 4.0 Role and Responsibilities of The Legal Services Provider 4.1 The Legal Services Provider will give practical advice and support in respect of: 4.1.1 Legal aspects of recruitment; 4.1.2 Statements of terms and conditions of employment; 4.1.3 Disciplinary issues, suspensions, grievances, attendance management, capability management; 4.1.4 Equal Opportunity policy and procedures and issues relating to sexual, disability, racial and other discrimination; 4.1.5 Termination of employment, including disciplinary hearings, redundancies, attendance management hearings and severance payments; 4.1.6 Settlement Agreements, in particular DFE guidance 4.1.7 TUPE; 4.1.8 Pensions; 4.1.9 Employee and Employer exposure to obligations around Data Protection and Freedom of Information; 4.1.10 Whistleblowing allegations; 4.1.11 Regular training on employment law and other HR matters for managers; 4.1.12 Training for the HR team on issues arising in employment law; 4.1.13 Monthly update meetings will take place with senior HR staff; 4.1.14 Termly review of performance management issues with all senior managers. 4.1.15 Guidance on sponsorship and visas in relation to staff from overseas 4.2 In addition there must be a single point of contact with a senior partner who will: 4.2.1 Act as a Relationship Manager directing to other specialist legal advice as necessary, and working to obtain discount on other services; 4.2.2 Be available to provide advice around the clock to HR and the Executive team; 4.2.3 Attend SLT and WLT meetings on request to provide guidance and training on relevant HR topics; 4.2.4 Have a detailed understanding of FE and the intervention process; 4.2.5 Provide advocacy support at all tribunal hearings 4.2.6 Be available to Governors and to attend (on request) Governors meetings in the evenings

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0655ba
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/072489-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79100000 - Legal services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£500,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£500,000 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
£800,000 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
£800,000 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
31 Jul 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
22 Apr 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
25 Feb 2026Expired
Award Date
11 Jun 20262 months ago
Contract Period
1 Aug 2026 - 31 Jul 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
2026-06-10

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
The City of Liverpool College
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
THE LEARNING EXCHANGE, LIVERPOOL
Postcode
L1 9DW
Postcode Area
Liverpool
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD7 Merseyside
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD72 Liverpool
Delivery Location
TLD72 Liverpool
Local Authority
Liverpool
Electoral Ward
Canning
Westminster Constituency
Liverpool Riverside

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

HILL DICKINSON LLP

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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