--- title: "WM Collaborator fund- Networks and Leadership Programme pre-market engagement" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0784ef" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0784ef" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0784ef.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0784ef.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "West Midlands Combined Authority" published: "2026-10-09" --- # WM Collaborator fund- Networks and Leadership Programme pre-market engagement Buyer: West Midlands Combined Authority Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0784ef [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0784ef) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0784ef.json) ## Summary 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. ## Notice 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 ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/095749-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 9 Oct 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 7 Dec 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 17 May 2027 - 31 Mar 2029 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £2,300,000 | | 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 | | 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 | TLG West Midlands (England) | ## 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 - 66171000 - Financial consultancy services - 79421000 - Project-management services other than for construction work ## Release History - 9 Oct 2026 at 14:58 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/095749-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/095749-2026 9th October 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - http://www.WMCA.org.uk - https://wmca.bravosolution.co.uk - 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-0784ef. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0784ef.json.