The government appears to be planning to move away from the current concession model based on multiple Home Office-approved suppliers, to a dedicated test owned by the Home Office and designed by one supplier.
Through UK Visas and Immigration, the government announced it will engage with the market to understand the “products, services and innovations available”, encouraging suppliers to register their interest.
The service, carrying an estimated contract value of £1.13 billion, will cover the development and ongoing support of a Home Office branded test to be used globally for all HOELTs, and the facilitation of tests around the world.
This includes design and maintenance of an online platform for customers to book tests and receive results, physical test centres, invigilators, and ID-verification services.
The engagement process “will include but not be limited to testing the feasibility of potential procurement options and the market’s capacity and capability for delivery,” according to the Home Office.
Currently, Pearson, IELTS SELT Consortium, LanguageCert and Trinity College London deliver Home Office-approved SELTs in the UK.
Outside of the UK, tests are delivered by Pearson, IELTS SELT Consortium, LanguageCert and Skills for English (UKVI).
[The engagement process] will include but not be limited to testing the feasibility of potential procurement options and the market’s capacity and capability for delivery
Last year, Pearson’s English language testing volumes grew by 49%, driving the company’s profits, which were up by 31% on 2022.
Tests are required by certain immigration routes to evidence English language competency, including student visas.
As such, the new HOELT will assess applicants’ competency in speaking and listening, and, dependent on the route, reading and writing English.
Suppliers can express an interest through the Home Office website and a virtual industry day is planned for September 25.
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