---
title: "Solicitors Qualification training provider"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-047c8e"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-047c8e"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-047c8e.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-047c8e.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "SHEFFIELD HALLAM UNIVERSITY"
published: "2025-09-04"
---

# Solicitors Qualification training provider

Buyer: SHEFFIELD HALLAM UNIVERSITY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-047c8e

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## Summary

Sheffield Hallam University has awarded a contract to BARBRI Global Limited to provide training services for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) preparation. This initiative is part of the university's strategic priorities, aiming to develop a postgraduate LLM programme within their Institute of Law & Justice. The awarded contract, valued at £1.25 million, falls under the higher education services industry category and supports the development of the new course offering "a cradle to qualification" for aspiring solicitors. The contract, resulting from an open procurement procedure, was finalised on 30th August 2025, with the services initially to be delivered from the university's main campus in Sheffield, with potential expansion to a new London campus in 2026.

This contract presents growth opportunities for businesses involved in legal education or online training platforms. The tender specifically called for service providers capable of delivering professional training through an online system, with strong support frameworks for both students and the university’s academic design. This would ideally suit businesses with extensive experience in the higher education sector, especially those with capabilities to support a diverse, international student body, and those committed to equity, equality, diversity, and inclusion (EEDI) standards. Additionally, businesses with robust IT infrastructure meeting public sector accessibility requirements will find this contract beneficial to their growth strategy.

## Notice

Sheffield Hallam University has a number of strategic priorities that derive directly from a tailored law portfolio which utilises the HKC brand and the creation of a law school in the new Institute of Law & Justice. Central to this strategy is the creation of a new LLM postgraduate course (Solicitors Qualifying Examination "SQE" part 1 & 2) to provide "a cradle to qualification" for students who want to become solicitors. We require a supplier to provide the SQE preparation training elements which will form part of the LLM Solicitors Qualification Examination. The requirement is for a supplier to provide: * Professional training via an online system which students can access independently * A readily accessible online support service for system issues * Professional support for students for academic issues relating to the training provided * Involvement in a review of the Sheffield Hallam University course design and be involved in the development of the other law modules provided by SHU which form the LLM award.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The Department of Law & Criminology at Sheffield Hallam University is a large successful department which has diversified over the past 5 years and brings the University additional funding in terms of its research and contract work both nationally and internationally which in turn has improved the REF Unit of Assessment 20 results significantly. The diversification and subsequent growth is as a direct result of the successful creation of the International Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice ("HKC"). The University has identified the Law subject area as a pillar subject providing further resources and support in order to significantly increase undergraduate numbers. Opportunities We have a number of strategic priorities that derive directly from a tailored law portfolio which utilises the HKC brand and the creation of a law school in the new Institute of Law & Justice. Central to this strategy is the creation of a new LLM postgraduate course (Solicitors Qualifying Examination "SQE" part 1 & 2) to provide "a cradle to qualification" for students who want to become solicitors. Our aim is to create a new suite of postgraduate professional qualifications that will enhance the refreshed undergraduate portfolio which has been revalidated and is due to roll out in September 2025. We want to provide a range of 1 and 2 year pathways as well as an LLM law conversion course with SQE. We will run the LLM course from our main campus in Sheffield but there is scope to offer this course from September 2026 from our new London campus. We intend to offer this course to three specific markets of students - law graduates (from SHU or elsewhere), non-law graduates (from SHU or elsewhere) and international students (practising lawyers wanting to practice in the UK). We require a supplier to provide the SQE preparation training elements which will form part of the LLM Solicitors Qualification Examination. The requirement is for a supplier to provide: * Professional training via an online system which students can access independently * A readily accessible online support service for system issues * Professional support for students for academic issues relating to the training provided * Involvement in a review of the Sheffield Hallam University course design and be involved in the development of the other law modules provided by SHU which form the LLM award. Requirements Online system The University requires an easily accessible, easy to use, reliable, SaaS system via which students can receive training and support. University staff would like to be able to access the system for monitoring purposes but expect the successful supplier to be responsible for all software resources used by the application. We would expect the successful supplier to be able to offer access to the training via a wide variety of devices (e.g. PC, laptop, IoS and android) and that the system would be updated regularly. MANDATORY REQUIREMENT - You must meet the requirements of the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 which states you must make your website or mobile app more accessible by making it 'perceivable, operable, understandable and robust'. You need to include and update an accessibility statement on your website. Curriculum Model We require delivery of a curriculum which comprehensively covers all the requirements for SQE 1 & 2 and fully prepares students for the relevant examinations. Experience & Success We require a provider with the highest level of experience & success within the HE sector. Staff Expertise The University requires a provider with staff who have the highest and most relevant skills and expertise to contribute towards the opportunities described above and enhance the reputation of the University. International Students The University requires evidence of experience in enrolling and teaching a wide range of international students. Student support We require a comprehensive offering of support from qualified & experienced staff in relation to the SQE1 & 2 courses you will be delivering. Our students will require: * Academic support * System use / course support (how to get the best out of the system and curriculum model) * Pastoral care in relation to struggles or concerns with course content * Specialist advice relating to the diverse needs of the student(s) EEDI (Equity, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion) Sheffield Hallam University is committed to advancing equality of opportunity, experiences and outcomes; ensuring that students and staff realise their full potential. This is reflected through the University's civic ambitions, with equality, diversity and inclusion acting as a key enablers to the University's strategy, Transforming Lives. The University's Equality Objectives (2021-24) demonstrate our commitment to EEDI. https://www.shu.ac.uk/about-us/our-values/equality-and-diversity Standards & Compliance The University wishes to contract with a provider who complies with all service-related standards and has robust quality assurance policies and procedures in place. Collaborative Opportunities We would like to explore opportunities with the selected provider, to collaborate on the provision of additional student courses. Out of Scope * The award of the qualification of LLM SQE. * Participation in the delivery of any of the Sheffield Hallam University law modules that form part of the LLM award. * The assessment of the Solicitors Qualification Examination Part 1 or Part 2 as this is delivered by the Solicitors Regulation Authority's approved assessor. * The process of entering the students into the Solicitors Qualification Examination Part 1 or Part 2 this remains the responsibility of the individual students and they bear the cost of the examination fees. The University reserves the right to make any award that may result from this Invitation to Tender, on a single supplier award basis, or not at all, at its sole discretion.

Options: The contract is expected to commence in October 2024 initially for a period of 3 years with a total anticipated duration of 5 years (3 + 2).

Renewal: The contract is expected to commence in October 2024 initially for a period of 3 years with a total anticipated duration of 5 years (3 + 2). If successful, the service will be renewed/retendered after the initial 5 years.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053796-2025 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 4 Sep 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 12 Aug 2024 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 29 Aug 2025 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | 5 years from July 2024 i.e. summer 2029 |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £1,250,000 |
| Lots value | £1,250,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £1,250,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | SHEFFIELD HALLAM UNIVERSITY |
| Locality | SHEFFIELD |
| Post town | Sheffield |
| Postcode | S1 1WB |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLE Yorkshire and The Humber |
| ITL 2 | TLE3 South Yorkshire |
| ITL 3 | TLE32 Sheffield |
| Local authority | Sheffield |
| Electoral ward | City |
| Westminster constituency | Sheffield Central |
| Delivery location | TLE32 Sheffield |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | BARBRI GLOBAL |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 80 - Education and training services

### Codes

- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 80300000 - Higher education services

## Release History

- 4 Sep 2025 at 09:26 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053796-2025
- 11 Jul 2024 at 10:33 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021226-2024

## Notice URLs

- https://www.in-tendhost.co.uk/sheffieldhallamuniversity
- https://www.shu.ac.uk/
- https://www.shu.ac.uk/about-us/our-values/equality-and-diversity

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-047c8e. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-047c8e.json.