West Midlands Catalyst Fund - Pre market engagement

2026-11-03

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

United Kingdom (UK)

2026-11-02