Edinburgh, UK – In a move that will greatly benefit UK colleges and universities, Open LMS, a leading learning management system (LMS) provider, has been appointed to the Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges (APUC) Framework under ITS1065 AP – Lot 1: Proprietary VLE Systems. This appointment, with LTG serving as the contracting entity, will allow institutions across the UK to easily procure Open LMS through a fully compliant and pre-approved route.
APUC, the procurement centre of expertise and consortium for all universities and colleges in Scotland, works to promote innovation, best practices, collaboration, and value delivery. With this new partnership, UK institutions will have streamlined access to a proven, scalable, and engaging learning platform.
“This appointment to the APUC Framework reflects our shared commitment to providing UK education with secure, scalable, and forward-thinking learning platforms,” said Bill Conran, Head of Sales, Business Development & Strategy at Open LMS. “We are proud to partner with 186 Digital to bring powerful infrastructure, thoughtful design, and learner-centred features to institutions looking for sustainable innovation.”
Open LMS, delivered commercially in the UK by 186 Digital, offers a fully managed platform hosted on AWS, with robust analytics, certified compliance, and sector-aligned support. Institutions can also benefit from the integration of Rocket Learning Rewards, an engagement platform that rewards learner commitment and participation through real-world incentives.
Myles Thies, Chief Executive Officer at 186 Digital, stated, “UK universities and colleges now have access to a world-class LMS backed by global expertise and local support. This is not just a procurement win – it is a chance to rethink the rapidly evolving student experience and enable institutions to scale digital teaching and learning with confidence.”
Open LMS is used by over 1,000 institutions and organisations worldwide, including leading universities across the UK, Europe, and Australia. Its higher and further education clients include Royal College of Arts, Middlesex University, Waseda University, University of Northwestern St Paul, Southern Oregon University, Regent Business School, and several campuses within the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCCS).
The appointment of Open LMS to the APUC framework positions it as a premium alternative for UK institutions seeking to modernise their learning infrastructure without compromise. With continued downward pressure on public funding and institutional budgets, many universities are re-evaluating the cost and complexity of legacy VLE platforms. Open LMS offers a modern alternative – one that reduces operational burden, promotes innovation in an increasingly AI-dominated world, and delivers real cost efficiencies over time.
About Open LMS
Open LMS, part of Learning Technologies Group Ltd (LTG), is a highly configurable learning management system (LMS) that scales to your organisation’s goals. They help customers all over the world, from industry to higher education, by providing a familiar experience for learners, cutting-edge ecosystem tools, in-depth reporting and data, in-app authoring, learning pathways, and compliance training and reporting.
As the world’s largest commercial provider of hosting and support services for open-source Moodle™, Open LMS is supported by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and helps organisations deliver great learning experiences without complexities.
Open LMS is part of Learning Technologies Group’s award-winning group of specialist learning technology and talent management businesses. Learn more about Open LMS at www.openlms.net.
About 186 Digital
186 Digital is the official UK sales and account management partner for Open LMS. They support institutions throughout the procurement and implementation journey, providing local expertise, sector insight, and dedicated relationship management.
As a trusted EdTech partner across higher education, further education, and corporate training, they specialise in helping organisations modernise their learning infrastructure with minimal risk and maximum impact. Learn more about 186 Digital at 186digital.com.
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