Evaluation of WMCA UKSPF Investment in Business Support - Contract Award Notice

Notice to confirm the award of a contract in relation to the Evaluation of WMCA UKSPF Investment in Business Support procurement exercise.

WMCA £88m UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) programme focusses across three investment priorities. We are seeking to commission this evaluation on the business support elements of the programme. With the key focus being on understanding the impact, effectiveness and growth value of programme activities. The evaluation of the business support elements of WMCA's 3-year UKSPF programme will be used to inform our ongoing business support investment, including from UKSPF post 2024/25.

The evaluation should focus on the following broad research questions, however we would welcome suggestions from bidders, as to additional lines of enquiry that would strengthen our understanding of the impact and effectiveness of our investment.

• To what extent has UKSPF funding been able to deliver the recommendations of the WM Business Support review?
• How effective have UKSPF-funded business support activities been in addressing the challenges in the WMCA area?
• How effective has the provision of grant funding been in supporting growth?
• What has been the comparative value of WMCA investment in specialist account managers offering intensive support to business, versus its investment in more generalist advisors?

The initial contract period will be from the Contract Start Date until 31st March 2024. A 12-month option period will be included which WMCA can choose to invoke at their sole discretion until 31st March 2025.