New contracts to improve language services across courts and tribunals

New contracts for language services in HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) come into effect, covering spoken language interpreting, British Sign Language (BSL), visual and tactile communication, and quality assurance. The Ministry of Justice awarded these contracts following a competitive procurement process. Existing supplier thebigword will continue providing spoken language services, while Translate UK joins as an additional secondary supplier. Clarion UK remains responsible for visual and tactile communication, and The Language Shop will maintain independent quality assurance.

The contracts introduce improvements to make services more resilient and reduce off-contract bookings. A stronger onboarding process includes mandatory induction to the justice system, ensuring interpreters understand court procedures and professional expectations. Interpreters can opt out of sensitive cases where appropriate, acknowledging the emotional demands of such work. The Language Shop will provide independent oversight and risk-based quality assessments to identify and resolve issues promptly.

For users of HMCTS services, the primary benefit is fair and effective access to justice. The contracts ensure consistent support across all jurisdictions, whether through spoken language interpreting, BSL, or visual and tactile communication. Improvements cover face-to-face, video interpreting, and other communication methods to support understanding between users, judiciary, legal professionals, and HMCTS staff.

The new arrangements were informed by feedback from interpreters, legal professionals, and colleagues using language services. Clearer standards and independent assurance aim to make the service more responsive to users and help hearings proceed as planned. More details are available on the HMCTS language services page.