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WM Collaborator fund- Networks and Leadership Programme pre-market engagement

West Midlands Combined Authority

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

09 Oct 2026 at 14:58

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is developing a Networks and Leadership Programme under its WM Collaborator Fund, focused on the creative industries. The proposed work is intended to help creative businesses, organisations and individuals progress, grow and access higher-value opportunities, addressing gaps in existing business, skills and sector support. WMCA wants market input on current challenges, its proposed approach and effective ways to deliver support; feedback will help shape the programme’s scope, outcomes and delivery model before any procurement is designed. The work is intended for the West Midlands creative economy, which includes small organisations, micro-businesses and freelancers across different creative subsectors and places. The services may combine financial and business advice with programme or project management.

The process is at planning and is currently a pre-market information-gathering exercise, not a tender or a commitment to procure. WMCA is planning a further market engagement event online, with supplier interest used to send invitations. The expected event is on 26 October at 1:30pm; expressions of interest for this engagement were requested by 5pm on 23 October. The engagement milestone is scheduled to conclude by 6 November 2026. WMCA’s indicative value for the planned services is £2.3 million excluding VAT (£2.76 million including VAT). The planned contract period runs from 17 May 2027 to 31 March 2029. The next notice is expected on 7 December 2026. No tender procedure, bid deadline or evaluation method has been set out at this planning stage.

This engagement is most relevant to suppliers with experience supporting creative-sector businesses, organisations and individuals, particularly small organisations, micro-businesses and freelancers. WMCA is seeking informed views on barriers to business progress, growth and access to higher-value opportunities, and on how existing business, skills and sector support could be improved. Organisations able to contribute practical knowledge of creative subsectors across the West Midlands, and to propose effective support and delivery models, are well placed to inform the programme’s design. The service classifications point to potential needs spanning financial or investment advice and project management, alongside creative-business support. Suppliers can help shape the future scope and outcomes through market feedback, but taking part in this exercise does not confer preference or guarantee a subsequent contract.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

WM Collaborator fund- Networks and Leadership Programme pre-market engagement

Notice Description

West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) are looking to complete a further Pre-Market Engagement (PME) to gather information from the market around the Creative industry. The West Midlands has a large and diverse creative economy, characterised by a high proportion of small organisations, micro-businesses and freelancers operating across different creative subsectors and places. While there is already a range of business, skills and sector support available, evidence informing the development of the WM Collaborator Fund has identified gaps in the support available to help creative businesses, organisations and individuals progress, scale and access higher-value opportunities. 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. Feedback 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 26th October at 1:30pm. Suppliers who submit an interest in this PME by 5pm on the 23rd will be sent an invitation link. 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. ** 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_1254 Pipeline notice- ocds-h6vhtk-06e69b

Planning Information

West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) are looking to complete a further Pre-Market Engagement (PME) to gather information from the market around the Creative industry. The West Midlands has a large and diverse creative economy, characterised by a high proportion of small organisations, micro-businesses and freelancers operating across different creative subsectors and places. While there is already a range of business, skills and sector support available, evidence informing the development of the WM Collaborator Fund has identified gaps in the support available to help creative businesses, organisations and individuals progress, scale and access higher-value opportunities. 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. Feedback 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 26th October at 1:30pm. Suppliers who submit an interest in this PME by 5pm on the 23rd will be sent an invitation link. 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. ** 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_1254 Pipeline notice- ocds-h6vhtk-06e69b

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0784ef
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/095749-2026
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
£2,300,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Oct 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
7 Dec 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
TLG West Midlands (England)
Local Authority
Birmingham
Electoral Ward
Newtown
Westminster Constituency
Birmingham Ladywood

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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