Purpose

The WM Collaborator Fund is a £2.95 million programme funded through the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Multi-Year Integrated Settlement (MYIS), via the Creative Places Growth Fund allocation within the Economic Development and Regeneration Pillar, running from September 2026 to March 2029. It will support the growth and productivity of the West Midlands creative economy through three integrated strands focused on creative networks, leadership development, and freelancer progression, addressing market failures around fragmentation, capacity, and access to opportunities.

Decision

(1)               The allocation of £2,950,000 of Multi-Year Integrated Settlement (“MYIS”) revenue funding to deliver the WM Collaborator Fund between September 2026 and 31 March 2029 be approved.

(2)               The Business Justification Case (“BJC”) for the WM Collaborator Fund Programme (“the Programme”) and the associated delivery model, comprising the Networks, Leadership and Freelancer strands, to enable procurement activity to commence be approved for:

(a)        the Networks and Leadership strands through an open procurement process; and

(b)        the Freelancer strand through the Skills FPS Framework (or another compliant procurement route where appropriate).

(3)               Delegated authority to the Director of Economy (Policy and Integration), in consultation with Legal Services, Procurement and Finance, to take all necessary actions required to implement and deliver the Programme in accordance with the approved BJC, the WMCA Constitution and the Single Assurance Framework, provided that such actions do not materially alter the scope, objectives or approved budget of the Programme be approved.