Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Graduation Ceremony Venue Hire

THE OPEN UNIVERSITY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

21 Sep 2026 at 10:39

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Open University procured event venue hire for its graduation ceremony, specifically the York Barbican in York. The requirement covers an event-services arrangement for the ceremony planned at that venue, with delivery in the United Kingdom. The buying organisation is The Open University, a public authority based at Walton Hall in Milton Keynes. The procurement was structured as one requirement and concerns services rather than goods or construction. The scope is focused on providing a suitable venue for a university graduation event, so relevant suppliers are likely to include conference and events venues, venue operators, and organisations able to host formal, large-scale academic ceremonies. The named venue is York Barbican, operated by Legends Global Holdings Limited.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded through a direct award below the relevant threshold, without competition. Legends Global Holdings Limited was selected as the supplier for the single requirement. The contract was signed on 1 April 2026 and runs from 1 April 2026 to 16 April 2027. Its value is £26,210 excluding VAT, or £31,452 including VAT. The requirement is classified as event services. The contract covers the hire of York Barbican for The Open University’s graduation ceremony on 16 April 2027. The awarded supplier is recorded as active, and the contract is also active. The published outcome therefore records a completed procurement rather than an opportunity for new submissions.

This procurement demonstrates demand from The Open University for a managed event venue capable of hosting a formal graduation ceremony. A credible future competitor would need access to an appropriate venue, the capacity and layout to accommodate university ceremonies, and the operational ability to support a significant institutional event. Relevant strengths would include experience in conference, graduation or comparable ceremonial event delivery, reliable venue management, event-day coordination, and the ability to provide suitable facilities in York or another location meeting the university’s requirements. Venue operators and conference businesses with established public-sector or education-sector experience would be well placed to demonstrate understanding of formal protocols, scheduling, guest handling and dependable service delivery.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Graduation Ceremony Venue Hire

Notice Description

Hire of York Barbican for 16th April 2027 graduation ceremony

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-077620
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089003-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

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
Not specified
Contracts Value
£26,210 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2026 - 16 Apr 2027 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THE OPEN UNIVERSITY
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
MILTON KEYNES
Postcode
MK7 6AA
Postcode Area
Milton Keynes
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ12 Milton Keynes
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Milton Keynes
Electoral Ward
Monkston
Westminster Constituency
Milton Keynes Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

SMG Europe Holdings Limited

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...