---
title: "Graduation Ceremony Venue Hire"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-077620"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-077620"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077620.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077620.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "THE OPEN UNIVERSITY"
published: "2026-09-21"
---

# Graduation Ceremony Venue Hire

Buyer: THE OPEN UNIVERSITY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-077620

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-077620)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077620.json)

## Summary

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.

## Notice

Hire of York Barbican for 16th April 2027 graduation ceremony

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089003-2026 |
| 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 |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 21 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Apr 2026 - 16 Apr 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £26,210 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | THE OPEN UNIVERSITY |
| Locality | MILTON KEYNES |
| Postcode area | Milton Keynes |
| Postcode | MK7 6AA |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire |
| ITL 3 | TLJ12 Milton Keynes |
| Local authority | Milton Keynes |
| Electoral ward | Monkston |
| Westminster constituency | Milton Keynes Central |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | SMG Europe Holdings Limited |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 79952000 - Event services

## Release History

- 21 Sep 2026 at 10:39 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089003-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089003-2026
  21st September 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-077620. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-077620.json.