Scope
Reference
Project_1038, ITT_1705
Description
Business Growth West Midlands (BGWM) who are a part of West Midlands Combined Authority is seeking a supplier to support the successful delivery of the West Midlands Business Festival (WMBF) 2026, with an optional extension to support on the delivery for 2027. This flagship initiative is designed to showcase and support businesses across the West Midlands Region. Building on the foundations established by WMBF 2025, the festival aims to reach a wider audience, improve the event quality, and deliver measurable business impact.
WMBF will take place from Monday 2nd February 2026 to Friday 13th February 2026.
As part of this tender WMCA are seeking a company to support with the following with BGWM having oversight:
1) Build on the 2024/ 2025 Festival Brand.
2) To coordinate the organisation and delivery of the 'business festival' (not to be confused with business events, business weeks, corporate events or expos), which will include identifying and liaison with key partners and external organisations to create a comprehensive programme of events that will be of interest to businesses in the West Midlands Region.
3) To produce, develop and deliver a comprehensive marketing promotional programme. This includes advertising and publicising the overarching festival and working with partners for support and individual events. In addition to this, provide operational support to ensure increased attendance.
4) To conclude a performance monitoring framework and economical assessment post festival.
5) To explore potential revenue streams that will naturally arise from the festival.
Suppliers participating in WMCA procurements will now be expected to register on a central digital platform (CDP). The CDP is available at https://www.gov.uk/find-tender. Suppliers can submit their core supplier information and, where a procurement opportunity arises, share this information with the WMCA via the CDP. It is free to use and will mean suppliers will no longer have to re-enter this information for each public procurement but simply ensure it is up to date and subsequently shared.
Contract 1. Delivery of West Midlands Business Festival
Supplier
Contract value
- £330,000 excluding VAT
- £396,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Award decision date
11 August 2025
Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers
11 August 2025
Standstill period
- End: 20 August 2025
- 8 working days
Earliest date the contract will be signed
21 August 2025
Contract dates (estimated)
- 21 August 2025 to 31 March 2026
- Possible extension to 31 March 2027
- 1 year, 7 months, 11 days
Description of possible extension:
1 x 12 months to deliver West Midlands Business Festival 2027
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 79342000 - Marketing services
- 79340000 - Advertising and marketing services
Contract locations
- UKG - West Midlands (England)
Information about tenders
- 4 tenders received
- 1 tender assessed in the final stage:
- 1 submitted by small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- 0 submitted by voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
- 1 supplier awarded contracts
- 0 suppliers unsuccessful (details included for contracts over £5 million)
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Supplier
IceBlue Marketing & Design Ltd
- Companies House: 03366651
6 Church St
Kidderminster
DY10 2AD
United Kingdom
Email: HELLO@ICEBLUE.CO.UK
Region: UKG12 - Worcestershire
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Supported employment provider: No
Public service mutual: No
Associated people/organisations:
Not Applicable.
Contract 1. Delivery of West Midlands Business Festival
Contracting authority
West Midlands Combined Authority
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PGMD-1353-PZVX
16 Summer Lane
Birmingham
B19 3SD
United Kingdom
Email: procurement.team@wmca.org.uk
Website: http://www.WMCA.org.uk
Region: UKG31 - Birmingham
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government