Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Theatre Royal Plymouth Graduation Ceremonies (November)

UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

15 Aug 2026 at 00:08

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

03 Aug 2026 at 12:31

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of Plymouth procured event services for its November graduation ceremonies in 2027 and 2028. The requirement covers exclusive hire of Theatre Royal Plymouth for four days for each programme: one set-up day and three ceremony days. It also includes post-ceremony receptions, catering, hospitality and operational support for graduates, guests, staff and official attendees. The work will take place at Theatre Royal Plymouth in Plymouth, Devon. The venue is intended to accommodate multiple ceremonies within a compressed timetable, with suitable capacity, accessibility, visitor facilities and professional event management. The procurement arose because Plymouth Guildhall was unavailable due to refurbishment delays and uncertainty over its future availability. The University of Plymouth is the buying organisation.

This completed procurement was made by direct award to THEATRE ROYAL (PLYMOUTH) LIMITED under the single-supplier justification in the Procurement Act 2023. The award date was 30 July 2026, following a standstill period ending on 26 August 2026. The awarded value is £480,730 excluding VAT, or £576,876 including VAT. The contract period runs from 27 August 2026 to 1 December 2028, with a possible extension to 1 December 2029 if the previously intended venue remains unavailable. A contract signature milestone was due on 27 August 2026. The award is above the relevant threshold. Evaluation was not competitive: the University considered the selected venue the only reasonably available supplier with the required capacity, availability, suitability and operational capability.

This award demonstrates established demand from the University of Plymouth for professionally managed graduation-event delivery in Plymouth. A credible future competitor would need access to a large theatre or comparable venue, with sufficient capacity and accessibility for graduates, guests, staff and official attendees. It would also need to accommodate several ceremonies in a tightly managed programme, provide a dedicated set-up period, and coordinate reliable front-of-house, technical and operational support. Catering, hospitality and reception management are integral capabilities, rather than optional additions. The procurement also shows that venue availability and suitability for the University’s academic calendar are decisive, alongside the ability to deliver an appropriate visitor experience with minimal disruption. Suppliers combining venue control with event, hospitality and logistical services would be best placed to compete when this requirement returns.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Theatre Royal Plymouth Graduation Ceremonies (November)

Notice Description

The Theatre Royal Plymouth venue and associated event services will be used by the University of Plymouth to deliver its 2027 and 2028 Graduation Ceremonies in November. These ceremonies are a business-critical component of the University's academic calendar, providing the formal conferral and celebration of awards for graduating students. The contract will support the delivery of multiple graduation ceremonies together with associated hospitality and reception services for graduates, guests, staff and attendees. The contract will cover the hire and exclusive use of Theatre Royal Plymouth for a four-day period comprising one set-up day and three graduation ceremony days in November. Associated post-ceremony reception services, including catering and hospitality provision for graduates, guests, and official attendees, are also included within the scope of the contract. The requirement has arisen following the unavailability of the University's previously intended graduation venue, Plymouth Guildhall, due to ongoing refurbishment delays and uncertainty regarding future availability. Theatre Royal Plymouth offers a suitably sized, established, and professionally managed venue capable of accommodating the University's graduation programme and associated logistical requirements within the required timescales. The below justification set out in Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 applies to this Direct Award: (5) 'Single supplier' because, due to the particular characteristics, capacity, availability and suitability of the venue required to deliver the University's graduation programme within the required timescales, Theatre Royal Plymouth is considered to be the only reasonably available supplier capable of meeting the University's requirements. The requirement has arisen following the unavailability of the University's previously intended graduation venue, Plymouth Guildhall, due to refurbishment delays and uncertainty regarding future availability. The contract will provide venue hire at Theatre Royal Plymouth for one set-up day and three graduation ceremony days. The contract will also provide associated post-ceremony reception and hospitality services, together with the operational support necessary to facilitate the successful delivery of the University's graduation programme.

Procurement Information

This Transparency Notice (UK5) sets out the University of Plymouth's intention to award a contract to Theatre Royal Plymouth (Registered Company No. 01560651), Royal Parade, Plymouth, PL1 2TR, for the provision of venue hire and associated hospitality services required to deliver the University's Graduation Ceremonies in 2027 and 2028. The Supplier 'Theatre Royal Plymouth' provides a large-scale theatre venue and associated event services capable of accommodating the University's graduation ceremonies, graduates, guests, staff, and associated reception activities. The proposed contract includes venue hire for one set-up day and three ceremony days, together with post-ceremony reception and hospitality services. The University requires a venue capable of hosting multiple graduation ceremonies within a compressed timeframe, whilst providing the capacity, accessibility, operational support, and visitor experience appropriate for a significant institutional event. The requirement has arisen following confirmation that the University's previously intended venue, Plymouth Guildhall, will not be available in 2027 and 2028 due to ongoing refurbishment delays and uncertainty regarding future availability. Following consideration of available options, Theatre Royal Plymouth has been identified as the venue best able to meet the University's specific operational and scheduling requirements. For these reasons, the University of Plymouth considers the Direct Award justification(s) permissible under section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023. More specifically, sub-section 41(1)(a) states that "if a direct award justification applies, a contracting authority may award a public contract directly to a supplier that is not an excluded supplier". The University considers that Theatre Royal Plymouth represents the only reasonably available supplier capable of delivering the required graduation venue and associated services within the required timescales and without significant disruption to the University's graduation programme.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d9d4
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077893-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

79952000 - Event services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£480,730 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Aug 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
30 Jul 20262 months ago
Contract Period
27 Aug 2026 - 1 Dec 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
PLYMOUTH, DEVON
Postcode
PL4 8AA
Postcode Area
Plymouth
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK4 Devon
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK41 Plymouth
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Plymouth
Electoral Ward
Drake
Westminster Constituency
Plymouth Sutton and Devonport

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

The Theatre Royal Plymouth

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

Loading OCDS record...