Applications Open Now for New Street Food Incubator Programme.

NCASS are working with Midlands based Street Food innovators, Digbeth Dining Club, on behalf of the Mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to deliver a free Street Food Incubator programme designed to support and grow street food businesses as part of the WMCA Market Catapult scheme.

The West Midlands has a rich tapestry of food driven hospitality, from the highest concentration of fine dining restaurants outside of London, to desi pubs, ground-breaking street food markets to historical regional specialisms (from chippies to the Balti triangle).

These businesses play an important role in place making, delivering flavour and identity to our high streets and local centres. They are important sources of employment across demographics and play a key part in our everyday economy. Supporting the growth of this sector and enriching markets and events across the WMCA region is a priority for the WMCA Mayor.

‘We are delighted to have been selected to deliver the WMCA Street Food Incubator Pilot. NCASS supports catering and hospitality businesses every day, and we thank the Mayor and the WMCA for the opportunity to further support caterers and entrepreneurs in the West Midlands to make the next step to help support and grow their business.

We are proud to have been able to be part of so many street food businesses success across the UK and are invested in entrepreneurship in a sector that is inspiring, diverse and dynamic. We are very much looking forward to delivering the pilot together to provide the opportunity to new and growing businesses to support independent hospitality in the WMCA region.’ Alan Fox, NCASS CEO

The programme is designed to support start-ups and existing traders in growing their businesses through mentoring and training, and trading opportunities across the WMCA region.

There are 36 places on the programme, working with Digbeth Dining Club, we will assess applications for suitability.

Please bear in mind when applying that you will be required to complete training, documentation and attend workshops from October to December, carry out hands-on training in December and spend time trading from February to April 2026.

You need to be based in Birmingham, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, Dudley or Wolverhampton to take part in the programme.

This programme does not cover costs for equipment; you must have funds available to kit your business out and be able to start trading within 3 months of the programme start date.

Apply here for a place on the programme until the 10th of November here