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West Midlands Catalyst Fund - Pre market engagement

West Midlands Combined Authority

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

09 Oct 2026 at 12:30

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

West Midlands Combined Authority is developing the Catalyst Fund within its Creative Places Growth Fund. It aims to support and strengthen a limited number of specialist creative hubs and the wider growth ecosystems that serve the region’s diverse creative community. The intended scope spans support for creative infrastructure and hub development, with the programme shaped around challenges and effective delivery models in the creative industries. The buyer highlights regional strengths in screen industries, gaming, creative technology, design and fashion, and aims to help unlock economic growth, investment and jobs. The procurement is expected to involve financial and venture-capital services, financial consultancy and project management. The stated delivery area is the United Kingdom; the programme is focused on the West Midlands. At this planning stage, the authority is seeking sector insight to help define any future commissioned intervention.

This is a planning-stage pre-market engagement, not a tender invitation or competition. The authority is gathering feedback to test its proposed approach and shape the scope, outcomes and delivery model of a possible future programme and related procurement. Suppliers were invited to an online engagement event on 23 October 2026 at 1:30pm; interest for an invitation was due by 22 October, with a questionnaire encouraged after the event. The engagement questionnaire was due by 30 October 2026. The authority expected a further notice by 30 November 2026. The estimated procurement value is £3.86 million excluding VAT (£4.632 million including VAT). One lot is planned, with an expected contract period from 17 May 2027 to 31 March 2029. Responses to the engagement are for information and will not be scored.

This engagement is most relevant to suppliers working across creative-sector investment, financial advice and programme delivery. Organisations with experience in venture capital or other finance for creative businesses, financial consultancy, and managing multi-partner programmes may be able to contribute practical evidence about delivery models and sector needs. Insight into the development and operation of specialist creative hubs, creative infrastructure and regional growth ecosystems will be especially pertinent, including knowledge of screen, gaming, creative technology, design or fashion. The buyer is seeking feedback on current challenges and on how best to support a diverse range of creatives across the West Midlands; suppliers able to speak to that breadth and to economic growth, investment and job creation can inform the programme’s design. This is an information-gathering exercise, not a route to preferential treatment or a commitment to a later contract.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

West Midlands Catalyst Fund - Pre market engagement

Notice Description

West Midlands Combined Authority is undertaking a Pre-Market Engagement (PME) to gather insight and feedback from the creative industries sector on the proposed Catalyst Fund and how best to support the development of creative hubs, infrastructure and growth ecosystems across the region. 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 and strengthening a limited number of specialist creative hubs and which support the diverse diaspora of creatives across the region. 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 are invited to attend an engagement event held via Microsoft Teams on 23rd October at 1:30pm. Suppliers who submit an interest in this PME by the 22nd, will be sent an invitation link. Suppliers are encouraged to complete the engagement questionnaire attached to this PME following the event. These must be submitted via the portal. PLEASE NOTE - This is an information gathering exercise rather than a call for competition and therefore publication or response does not commit WMCA or respondents to a future procurement, nor provide any process exemptions or preferential treatment to any parties expressing an interest. Please also note that this is not a formal PQQ or expression of interest in a tender exercise. This Pre-Market Engagement is to be used purely by WMCA to gather information. Your responses to this questionnaire will NOT be scored or evaluated in any way and will be used purely for information purposes by WMCA. WMCA will not be liable for costs incurred by any interested party participating in this exercise. ** Please Note that suppliers should not contact officers of the WMCA directly regarding this opportunity, all questions should be submitted through the Bravo Portal. Portal Website: https://wmca.bravosolution.co.uk Bravo Solution Project Reference: project_1253 - West Midlands Catalyst Fund Pipeline notice - Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-078346

Planning Information

West Midlands Combined Authority is undertaking a Pre-Market Engagement (PME) to gather insight and feedback from the creative industries sector on the proposed Catalyst Fund and how best to support the development of creative hubs, infrastructure and growth ecosystems across the region. 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 and strengthening a limited number of specialist creative hubs and which support the diverse diaspora of creatives across the region. 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 are invited to attend an engagement event held via Microsoft Teams on 23rd October at 1:30pm. Suppliers who submit an interest in this PME by the 22nd, will be sent an invitation link. Suppliers are encouraged to complete the engagement questionnaire attached to this PME following the event. These must be submitted via the portal. PLEASE NOTE – This is an information gathering exercise rather than a call for competition and therefore publication or response does not commit WMCA or respondents to a future procurement, nor provide any process exemptions or preferential treatment to any parties expressing an interest. Please also note that this is not a formal PQQ or expression of interest in a tender exercise. This Pre-Market Engagement is to be used purely by WMCA to gather information. Your responses to this questionnaire will NOT be scored or evaluated in any way and will be used purely for information purposes by WMCA. WMCA will not be liable for costs incurred by any interested party participating in this exercise. ** Please Note that suppliers should not contact officers of the WMCA directly regarding this opportunity, all questions should be submitted through the Bravo Portal. Portal Website: https://wmca.bravosolution.co.uk Bravo Solution Project Reference: project_1253 - West Midlands Catalyst Fund

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0784b5
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/095633-2026
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
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

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
9 Oct 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
30 Nov 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
17 May 2027 - 31 Mar 2029 1-2 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
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
Not specified
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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