New Ministry of Justice language services contracts for HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) have taken effect today, 5 October 2026. These contracts are designed to provide more consistent, reliable, and accessible services across courts and tribunals.
The services covered include spoken language interpreting, British Sign Language (BSL), visual and tactile communication, and independent quality assurance. The Ministry of Justice awarded these contracts following a procurement process.
Thebigword will continue as the primary spoken language services provider, with Translate UK joining as a new secondary supplier. Clarion UK will continue to provide visual and tactile communication services, and The Language Shop will maintain its role in independent quality assurance.
The new arrangements include improvements such as a stronger onboarding process for interpreters, with mandatory induction to the justice system. Interpreters will also have the option to opt out of specific case types. The Language Shop will offer independent oversight and risk-based quality assessments to help identify and resolve issues.