Tender: Independent Review of the Business Finance Landscape in Wales – Development Bank of Wales

About

The Development Bank of Wales is seeking a qualified economic consultancy or research provider to undertake an independent review of the business finance landscape in Wales. The review will assess how effectively current public, private and alternative finance provision meets the present and anticipated future needs of businesses in Wales, identify key gaps, market frictions, affordability constraints, potential market failures, risks and opportunities, and provide an independent, robust and evidence-led assessment for the Development Bank of Wales, Welsh Government and wider stakeholders. The successful supplier must produce practical, policy-relevant and decision-ready outputs for senior policy, delivery and stakeholder audiences. Phase 1 is expected to include mapping the current business finance landscape in Wales; assessing supply of and demand for business finance; reviewing the role and availability of public, private and alternative finance; identifying finance gaps, frictions, affordability constraints and potential market failures; examining the public finance and policy context; assessing current and emerging trends affecting future demand and supply of finance; identifying evidence and data gaps; undertaking proportionate and targeted stakeholder engagement; setting out headline policy and delivery implications; and producing clear, credible and decision-ready findings and recommendations. Subject to Phase 1 outcomes, budget and approvals, optional additional thematic work packages may be commissioned, potentially covering venture, innovation and scale-up finance; ownership transition and succession finance; commercial property, premises and development finance; infrastructure, project finance and capital structuring; additional data collection or stakeholder engagement; focused updates or refreshes to the Phase 1 evidence base; and final synthesis, policy analysis and reporting.