Public Sector Contracts in the Midlands

The Midlands — comprising both the West Midlands and East Midlands — is one of England's most populous and economically significant regions, with major public sector procurement activity across Birmingham, Coventry, Leicester, Nottingham, Derby, and dozens of county and district councils. The region has a substantial NHS footprint, two university cities with major teaching hospitals, and two combined authorities driving infrastructure and economic development investment.

West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is England's second most powerful mayoral combined authority, with devolved powers over transport, housing, economic development, and investment. WMCA and its constituent seven metropolitan councils — including Birmingham City Council, one of Europe's largest local authorities — generate significant procurement activity. The West Midlands is hosting significant Commonwealth Games legacy infrastructure and HS2 Midlands investment, driving construction and technical services procurement.

The East Midlands does not yet have a single combined authority, though the East Midlands Combined County Authority (covering Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby, and Nottingham) has recently been established. Leicestershire and Northamptonshire operate separately. East Midlands councils are major procurement buyers across social care, highways, education, and digital services. EMPA (East Midlands Procurement Authority) and Framework Midlands provide collaborative procurement services for East Midlands public bodies.

ESPO (Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation) is based in Leicester and serves as a major buying consortium for both East Midlands and other English public sector organisations, with framework agreements used by hundreds of public bodies nationally. Midlands-based suppliers who join ESPO frameworks gain access to a very broad national customer base.