---
title: "WM Catalyst Fund"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-078346"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078346"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078346.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078346.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "West Midlands Combined Authority"
published: "2026-10-08"
---

# WM Catalyst Fund

Buyer: West Midlands Combined Authority  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-078346

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## Summary

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.

## Notice

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.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094991-2026 |
| 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 |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 8 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 30 Nov 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 17 May 2027 - 1 Apr 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £3,860,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | West Midlands Combined Authority |
| Locality | BIRMINGHAM |
| Postcode area | 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 | TLG3 West Midlands |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### 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

## Release History

- 8 Oct 2026 at 08:09 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094991-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094991-2026
  8th October 2026 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-078346. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078346.json.