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WM Collaborator fund- Networks and Leadership Programme

West Midlands Combined Authority

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

08 Oct 2026 at 07:55

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Planning

18 Aug 2026 at 14:15

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

West Midlands Combined Authority is exploring a support programme for the West Midlands creative economy, combining grant funding with tailored development support across two connected workstreams. It is intended to address fragmented networks, limited collaboration between places and sectors, unequal access to opportunities and leadership capacity constraints within creative organisations. The programme would support creative businesses, freelancers, cultural organisations, networks and sector bodies. The service scope is expected to include programme delivery and management, financial and grant-related support, and development activity focused on collaboration and leadership. Delivery is intended for the West Midlands. The authority is seeking market feedback to test this approach and shape the programme’s scope, outcomes and delivery model before deciding on future procurement activity.

This is at planning stage: West Midlands Combined Authority has set out an intention to procure, but has not issued an invitation to tender. It expects to use a competitive flexible procedure. The procurement is planned as one lot, with a contract period expected to run from 17 May 2027 to 31 March 2029. The estimated value is £2.3 million excluding VAT (£2.76 million including VAT). The authority expected a future procurement notice on 30 November 2026. It also undertook pre-market engagement, asking suppliers to respond to questions by 1 September 2026. That engagement was intended to understand current challenges, test the proposed approach, identify effective delivery models and inform the design of any programme and procurement. Small and medium-sized businesses are considered suitable for the lot.

The planned work is likely to suit organisations able to combine grant funding administration with tailored development support for the creative economy. Relevant strengths include designing and managing programmes, providing financial or grant-related advice, and building networks and collaboration across creative businesses, freelancers, cultural organisations and sector bodies. Experience addressing uneven access to opportunities and developing leadership capacity within creative organisations would align with the challenges the authority has identified. Suppliers with the ability to work across places and sectors in the West Midlands may be well placed to shape a coherent programme across the two workstreams. The authority is using market engagement to hear from potential delivery organisations about challenges, effective models and the programme’s outcomes, so providers with practical insights into delivery can contribute to its development.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

WM Collaborator fund- Networks and Leadership Programme

Notice Description

The West Midlands creative economy is supported by a diverse ecosystem of creative businesses, freelancers, cultural organisations, networks and sector bodies. While the region has significant strengths and growth opportunities, evidence gathered through the Creative Places Growth Fund programme highlights ongoing challenges around fragmented networks, limited collaboration between places and sectors, uneven access to opportunities, and leadership capacity constraints within creative organisations. To address these challenges, West Midland Combined Authority (WMCA) is exploring the development of a support programme combining grant funding and tailored development support across two interconnected workstreams with an indicative value of approximately PS2-2.5million.

Planning Information

The West Midlands creative economy is supported by a diverse ecosystem of creative businesses, freelancers, cultural organisations, networks and sector bodies. While the region has significant strengths and growth opportunities, evidence gathered through the Creative Places Growth Fund programme highlights ongoing challenges around fragmented networks, limited collaboration between places and sectors, uneven access to opportunities, and leadership capacity constraints within creative organisations. To address these challenges, West Midland Combined Authority (WMCA) is exploring the development of a support programme combining grant funding and tailored development support across two interconnected workstreams with an indicative value of approximately £2-2.5million. WMCA is undertaking this pre-market engagement exercise to better understand current challenges, test the proposed approach, identify effective delivery models, and gather feedback that will inform the design of any future programme and associated procurement activity. Responses will help shape the scope, outcomes and delivery approach of any intervention that may be commissioned. Suppliers should read and complete responses to a set of questions attached within the advert by 1st September 2026. Please see link to the advert here: https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=62457f6a-e39a-f111-813c-005056b64545&fromProjectDashboard=True

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e69b
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094985-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

66 - Financial and insurance services

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

66122000 - Corporate finance and venture capital services

66140000 - Portfolio management services

66171000 - Financial consultancy services

79421000 - Project-management services other than for construction work

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,300,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Oct 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
30 Nov 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
17 May 2027 - 1 Apr 2029 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
West Midlands Combined Authority
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BIRMINGHAM
Postcode
B19 3SD
Postcode Area
Birmingham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG3 West Midlands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG31 Birmingham
Delivery Location
TLG3 West Midlands
Local Authority
Birmingham
Electoral Ward
Newtown
Westminster Constituency
Birmingham Ladywood

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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