Notice Information
Notice Title
Operating The Blackwood Miners' Institute
Notice Description
Blackwood Miners' Institute (BMI) is a cultural landmark with a proud history. Caerphilly County Borough Council (CCBC) is looking to appoint an external operator to lead the artistic, cultural, community, and commercial activity of this Grade II listed historic venue. The Council is undertaking preliminary market engagement to explore future operating models for Blackwood Miners' Institute. This engagement exercise invites organisations with experience in cultural, arts, heritage, or venue management to attend a site visit to the BMI. Through this early market engagement, CCBC aims to give interested organisations meaningful insight into Blackwood Miners' Institute, its spaces, its capabilities, and its cultural role. The process is designed to offer inspiration and practical understanding so that potential bidders can explore what operating models might be possible. By experiencing the venue first-hand and learning about the opportunities and challenges it presents, organisations will be better placed to consider how their skills, vision, and approach could form a viable and sustainable operating solution. Following the site visits, interested organisations will be required to submit an Expression of Interest. CCBC will then publish the full tender documents, which will set out the detailed requirements for the opportunity. Once tender submissions have been received, they will be evaluated in line with the stated criteria and the preferred operator will be identified.
Planning Information
Caerphilly County Borough Council (CCBC) is undertaking preliminary market engagement with organisations interested in occupying and operating Blackwood Miners’ Institute (BMI) as a cultural and heritage venue. The Council is looking to appoint an external operator to lead the artistic, cultural, community, and commercial activity of BMI, ensuring its long-term sustainability while protecting its heritage and public value. This opportunity will play a vital role in strengthening cultural participation, supporting community engagement, nurturing creative talent, and contributing to town centre regeneration, while preserving an iconic historic asset for future generations. The external operator will be responsible for the day-to-day management and operation of the Institute, including artistic programming, staffing, audience development, commercial activity, and venue hire, working in partnership with the Council. CCBC will remain landlord and custodian of the building, retaining responsibility for long-term stewardship and major structural maintenance. The Council is seeking suitable organisations that can deliver ambitious, inclusive, and high-quality cultural programming, develop audiences and community participation, support artist development and creative learning, and generate sustainable income through commercial and event activity. The ability to operate a multi-purpose venue, manage diverse spaces, and balance public value with commercial viability is essential. As part of this market engagement, the Council is sharing headline operational data from 2025 to help prospective operators understand the scale and scope of activity at Blackwood Miners’ Institute: • 37,111 tickets sold • 36,349 audience attendees • £517,868.54 net income • 164 performances delivered • 82% average performance capacity This is an opportunity to work in close partnership with the Council to co-design and deliver a refreshed operating model that will secure the long-term future of Blackwood Miners’ Institute. We want to collaborate with organisations who share our commitment to inclusive, creative, and community-focused cultural provision. Depending on the operating model proposed and following further legal assessment it is anticipated that the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE) may apply. If TUPE is applicable, eligible staff currently assigned to the operation of BMI may have the right to transfer to the successful external operator on their existing terms and conditions. Organisations wishing to attend a planned site visit to the Blackwood Miners’ Institute on either Wednesday, 11 March 2026, or Wednesday, 18 March 2026, must register their attendance no later than three working days before their chosen visit date. The deadline for submitting an Expression of Interest is 12:00 noon on Thursday, 26 March 2026. The deadline for submitting any questions prior to the Expression of Interest is 12:00 noon on Monday, 23 March 2026. Further details, including timescales and submission requirements, will be issued as part of this tendering process. Organisations interested in attending a site visit and/or submitting an Expression of Interest to tender can contact the Council by Dialogue on the Find-a-Tender Service, Proactis. A link to Proactis is provided below: Logon: https://supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/Account/Login Registration Link: https://supplierlive.proactisp2p.com/Account/Registration/Register
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-065a79
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017171-2026
- Current Stage
- Planning
- All Stages
- Planning
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
- Procurement Type
- Standard
- Procurement Category
- Services
- Procurement Method
- Not Specified
- Procurement Method Details
- Not specified
- Tender Suitability
- SME, VCSE
- Awardee Scale
- Not specified
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
70 - Real estate services
92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services
-
- CPV Codes
70332200 - Commercial property management services
92310000 - Artistic and literary creation and interpretation services
92320000 - Arts-facility operation services
92330000 - Recreational-area services
92340000 - Dance and performance entertainment services
92522000 - Preservation services of historical sites and buildings
Notice Value(s)
- Tender Value
- £1,500,000 £1M-£10M
- Lots Value
- Not specified
- Awards Value
- Not specified
- Contracts Value
- Not specified
Notice Dates
- Publication Date
- 26 Feb 20263 days ago
- Submission Deadline
- Not specified
- Future Notice Date
- 20 Apr 20262 months to go
- Award Date
- Not specified
- Contract Period
- 18 Jan 2027 - 18 Jan 2032 Over 5 years
- Recurrence
- Not specified
Notice Status
- Tender Status
- Planning
- Lots Status
- Planning
- Awards Status
- Not Specified
- Contracts Status
- Not Specified
Buyer & Supplier
Contracting Authority (Buyer)
- Main Buyer
- CAERPHILLY COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL
- Contact Name
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
- Contact Email
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
- Contact Phone
- Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Buyer Location
- Locality
- HENGOED
- Postcode
- CF82 7PG
- Post Town
- Cardiff
- Country
- Wales
-
- Major Region (ITL 1)
- TLL Wales
- Basic Region (ITL 2)
- TLL5 South East Wales
- Small Region (ITL 3)
- TLL53 Gwent Valleys
- Delivery Location
- TLL16 Gwent Valleys
-
- Local Authority
- Caerphilly
- Electoral Ward
- Ystrad Mynach
- Westminster Constituency
- Caerphilly
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017171-2026
26th February 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/016322-2026
24th February 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/016228-2026
23rd February 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
View full OCDS Record for this contracting process
The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.
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