---
title: "Investment Zone Scoping - Higher Skills Capacity Evaluation"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06039e"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06039e"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06039e.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06039e.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY"
published: "2026-01-12"
---

# Investment Zone Scoping - Higher Skills Capacity Evaluation

Buyer: WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06039e

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06039e.json)

## Summary

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is leading the procurement process for the "Investment Zone Scoping – Higher Skills Capacity Evaluation". This initiative is part of the WMCA's efforts to enhance the skills development across the region, specifically targeting Investment Zones. The procurement is currently in the planning stage with a focus on services within the evaluation consultancy industry category. Interested parties must register on the Proactis procurement platform by 23 January 2026 to access additional information. The project encompasses the West Midlands region, including delivery from Level 4 and Level 5 training providers, with a contract period beginning on 1 May 2026 and concluding on 30 April 2029. The future notice date is scheduled for 1 March 2026.

This tender presents opportunities for businesses specialising in evaluation consultancy services to collaborate with the WMCA in assessing and strengthening the local skills ecosystem. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) are particularly encouraged to participate, as the procurement process is suitable for such entities. It is an opportunity to contribute to shaping the skills landscape of the West Midlands while enhancing collaboration among educational institutions and private providers. The project aims to identify gaps in skill provisions and offer recommendations, fostering a robust environment for skill development and effective industry engagement in line with the region's growth aspirations.

## Notice

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is made up of 18 local councils, working together to make the West Midlands the best place to live, work and visit. Our priorities include homes, jobs, transport and growth for everyone. As an organisation, we're focused on making life better for people in the West Midlands. To achieve this, WMCA, working with partners as part of the West Midlands Investment Zone, is developing a specification to assess the capacity and capability of local skills and education providers to deliver high level skills and qualifications across several identified sectors and clusters. The WMCA is seeking to commission an evaluation of the current Skills Delivery Capacity with a focus on its Investment Zones during 2026. The purpose of the commission will be to understand and assess what the current skills capacity is to deliver high level skills that will support Investment Zone (IZ) aims and objectives as well as wider aspirations within the WMCA Growth Plan. Furthermore, it is intended that when WMCA do approach the market, the successful supplier will: * Assess and identify how the current skills ecosystem and training delivery capacity can be strengthened. * Outline how WMCA can enhance collaboration among Further Education (FE), Higher Education (HE), and private providers to meet industry needs reducing fragmentation and inefficient engagement. * Assess the current higher-level skills offer in the region at Level 4 and Level 5 training providers and with particular reference to the identified WM clusters. * Design and produce a mechanism for providing ongoing periodic assessment of this landscape to understand where gaps are reducing, being maintained or increasing and make recommendations accordingly.

### Planning Information

To participate in this engagement process, please register your interest on our new Proactis procurement platform using the link below:
https://procontract.due-north.com/Procurer/Advert/View?advertId=dd2dd087-84ec-f011-813c-005056b64545&fromAdvertEvent=True
Once registered, you will receive access to additional information and the questionnaire. Please ensure the completed questionnaire is submitted by 23 January 2026 at 23:59.
WMCA may invite you to participate in a face-to-face meeting or Teams call to further discuss your response. If so, you will receive communication via the Proactis Portal.
Please note, this is not a formal PQQ or expression of interest in a tender exercise. This Pre-Market Engagement is to be used purely by the WMCA to provide potential delivery partners with more information about WMCA’s plans for an online engagement platform.
The WMCA will not be liable for costs incurred by an interested party participating in this exercise.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002239-2026 |
| 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 |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 12 Jan 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 1 Mar 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 30 Apr 2026 - 30 Apr 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £150,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planning |
| Lots status | Planning |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY |
| Locality | BIRMINGHAM |
| Post town | Birmingham |
| Postcode | B19 3SD |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLG West Midlands (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLG3 West Midlands |
| ITL 3 | TLG31 Birmingham |
| Local authority | Birmingham |
| Electoral ward | Newtown |
| Westminster constituency | Birmingham Ladywood |
| Delivery location | TLG West Midlands (England) |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 79419000 - Evaluation consultancy services

## Release History

- 12 Jan 2026 at 12:21 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002239-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002239-2026
  12th January 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://procontract.due-north.com/Procurer/Advert/View?advertId=dd2dd087-84ec-f011-813c-005056b64545&fromAdvertEvent=True
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.wmca.org.uk/

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06039e. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06039e.json.