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WM Catalyst Fund

West Midlands Combined Authority

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

08 Oct 2026 at 08:09

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

West Midlands Combined Authority plans to establish the WM Catalyst Fund as part of its Creative Places Growth Fund. The service is intended to strengthen a limited number of specialist creative hubs and support the region’s diverse community of creatives, helping to grow investment, jobs and economic activity. It is aimed at creative industries, with stated strengths in screen industries, gaming, creative technology, design and fashion. The procurement covers financial and investment services, including corporate finance and venture capital, portfolio management and financial consultancy, alongside project management. Delivery is across the West Midlands. The Combined Authority is the buyer.

This procurement is at the planning stage: the buyer has stated its intention to procure, but has not yet issued an invitation to tender. It expects to use a competitive flexible procedure. The procurement is planned as one lot, with an expected contract period from 17 May 2027 to 31 March 2029. The estimated value is £3.86 million excluding VAT (£4.632 million including VAT). A further notice is expected by 30 November 2026; this is the buyer’s anticipated publication date, not a deadline for supplier responses. These are forward plans and the procurement has not reached a tender or award decision.

The work is likely to suit investment and financial advisory firms, fund managers, venture capital specialists and project-management providers with experience supporting creative-sector growth. Suppliers able to combine finance expertise with an understanding of specialist creative hubs and the needs of a diverse regional creative community may be well placed to respond. Relevant sector knowledge could include screen, gaming, creative technology, design and fashion, which the buyer identifies as areas of West Midlands strength. The buyer’s stated aims are to strengthen a limited number of creative hubs and support creatives across the region, contributing to investment, job creation and economic growth. Businesses can use the planning period to consider suitable delivery partners and prepare evidence of relevant capabilities and experience.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

WM Catalyst Fund

Notice Description

The Creative Industries are a priority growth sector within both the UK's Industrial Strategy and the West Midlands Growth Plan. The region has significant strengths in areas such as screen industries, gaming, CreaTech, design and fashion, with the potential to drive further economic growth, investment and job creation in these key growth sectors. The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is developing the Catalyst Fund as part of the Creative Places Growth Fund, with the goal of supporting the strengthening of a limited number of specialist creative hubs and supporting the diverse diaspora of creatives across the region.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078346
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094991-2026
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
Not specified
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
£3,860,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Oct 20265 days 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)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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