Published date: 11 February 2022

Closed opportunity - This means that the contract is currently closed. The buying department may be considering suppliers that have already applied, or no suitable offers were made.


Closing: 14 March 2022, 12pm

Contract summary

Industry

  • Business and management consultancy and related services - 79400000

Location of contract

West Midlands

Value of contract

£100,000 to £200,000

Procurement reference

tender_298645/1041663

Published date

11 February 2022

Closing date

14 March 2022

Closing time

12pm

Contract start date

1 April 2022

Contract end date

30 March 2024

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Open procedure (above threshold)

Any interested supplier may submit a tender in response to an opportunity notice.

This procedure can be used for procurements above the relevant contract value threshold.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

In brief, this piece of consultancy work will cover the following specific activities: 
- Establish a network of West Midlands tech and digital 'ambassadors' - individuals or firms that have their roots in the West Midlands but now operate in another country or part of the UK. This network should provide support and mentorship to existing West Midlands firms and provide greater connectivity to firms or investors abroad.
- Support the recruitment process for a West Midlands Tech Commissioner, to provide a visible point of leadership for the digital and tech economy. This individual would advocate for our sector, engage with investors, encourage firms to relocate, and advise the WMCA Economy team and Mayor on how to achieve our aims. Also provide ongoing support for the West Midlands Tech Commissioner once recruited, linking them to opportunities for advocacy and engagement.
- Support the establishment of workspaces for digital and tech entrepreneurs/start-ups, particularly in places that are underserved and for communities that don't access existing provision. This should be through engagement with firms that provide co-working and accelerator spaces, aligned with WMGC activity, and partnering with Housing and Regeneration teams in the LA/WMCA to identify potential sites. This should also align with work being undertaken to develop the regional business support system, ensuring that workspaces can benefit from any advisory or support services being commissioned through WMCA.
- Work with the WMCA to ensure that we maximise the value of the Co-Invest Fund for the digital and tech sector. This could include the establishment of a specific portal or guidance for digital and tech firms.
- Close working with the WMCA's partners (including, but not exclusively, Local Authorities, Local Enterprise Partnerships, Chambers of Commerce, Make UK, UKie, Federation of Small Businesses, CBI etc...)
- Reporting of progress: The winning tenderer will report progress to the WMCA Economic Growth Board. The WMCA Economy team will provide support in how this engagement functions, but it will be important to provide updates and assurance to the board and to use their insight (and that of the WMCA's partners - see above) in developing projects.
- In delivery of the contract, the winning tenderer will be expected to raise significant matched commercial funding to match this public investment over the course of the two years (this may be from in-kind sponsorship/donations from the private sector, or other that would count as 'match'). There is no expectation that external 'match' funding would in place at the beginning of the contract.
- In delivery of the contract, the winning tenderer will be expected to take into account (and have regard to) the range of other WMCA aims and policies, which include green and inclusive growth.

About the buyer

Contact name

West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA)

Address

16 Summer Lane
Birmingham
B19 3SD
England

Email

procurement.team@wmca.org.uk