Scope
Description
As a family of six community-based colleges and EKC Training across East Kent, East Kent Colleges Group's (EKC Group) mission is to empower our communities to develop their economic and social prosperity in a rapidly changing world.
The Group encounters various requests, and queries from a range of different stakeholders from learners themselves, their guardians, as well as from councils, and other private and public sector organisations.
Key areas of operation for which EKC Group are seeking retained legal services are areas including: commercial contract review and negotiation, SEND learner provision (including referrals and appeals), Data protection (and data sharing), property ownership, utilisation, alteration, and leases, as well as providing safe environments for staff and students across all the colleges as a collective with the aim of mitigating risks, and operating in compliance with relevant legislation and regulations.
This project is to procure Retained Legal Advice and Services which:
1. Provide ad-hoc access to a professional and legislatively sound advice and guidance service and paid at an agreed fixed fee each month or on an annual fee basis in the following nine key areas (non-exhaustive list):
a. Education law/student matters including disability discrimination, SEND, safeguarding, admissions and exclusions and service complaints;
b. Corporate governance and subsidiary company advice;
c. Freedom of information;
d. Health and safety;
e. Data protection;
f. Contracts, terms and conditions, service level agreements etc.;
g. Property disputes, leases, land and building matters, including capital projects;
h. Contractual disputes with third parties and;
i. General advice on issues affecting the running of the Group.
2. Provide unlimited telephone and email advice on a range of areas as detailed in the ITT Document (including those listed above)
3. Provide access and communicate with up to five specific members of the team, to be specified in the agreement as necessary.
4. Provide advice and guidance which adds value e.g. challenging assumptions and information provided. This will also include the provision of free briefings/update sessions/webinars on key legal changes as they arise e.g. circa 2 or 3 hours per annum.
Contract 1. East Kent Colleges Group (EKC) : Retained Legal Advice & Service 2026
Supplier
Contract value
- £94,575 excluding VAT
- £113,490 including VAT
Below the relevant threshold
Award decision date
27 November 2025
Earliest date the contract will be signed
27 January 2026
Contract dates (estimated)
- 2 February 2026 to 1 February 2029
- Possible extension to 1 February 2030
- 4 years
Description of possible extension:
In the event that the Group is satisfied with the service provision, the option for a One-year extension can be utilised to continue the service with VWV LLP Solicitors.
Main procurement category
Services
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
Should additional areas of legal advice or services be required, these will be negotiated between the parties.
The key 9 areas set out in the Invitation to Tender were stated to be be non-exhaustive.
CPV classifications
- 79140000 - Legal advisory and information services
Contract locations
- UKJ4 - Kent
Information about tenders
- 10 tenders received
- 3 tenders assessed in the final stage:
- 0 submitted by small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- 0 submitted by voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
- 1 supplier awarded contracts
- 2 suppliers unsuccessful (details included for contracts over £5 million)
Procedure
Procedure type
Below threshold - open competition
Supplier
VWV Solicitors LLP
24 King William Street
London
EC4R 9AT
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 (0)117 925 2020
Email: khickman@vwv.co.uk
Website: https://www.vwv.co.uk/contact-us/our-locations/solicitors-in-london/
Region: UKI31 - Camden and City of London
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1. East Kent Colleges Group (EKC) : Retained Legal Advice & Service 2026
Contracting authority
East Kent Colleges Group
- UK Register of Learning Providers (UKPRN number): 10006570
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PYPY-4814-DDBH
Ramsgate Road
Broadstairs
CT10 1PN
United Kingdom
Contact name: David Lutterodt-Coleman (Tender Administrator)
Email: queries.corporate.services@ekcgroup.ac.uk
Website: https://www.ekcgroup.ac.uk/
Region: UKJ44 - East Kent
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government