The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has undertaken a competitive procurement exercise to appoint a specialist consultancy to deliver an independent, evidence-based assessment of local bus demand trends. The commission will provide a robust understanding of the factors influencing bus patronage and deliver practical recommendations to support financial planning, patronage growth and strategic decision-making in advance of the introduction of bus franchising in 2027..

The appointed supplier will undertake a focused programme of analytical work comprising of: • Analysis of historic and current bus patronage trends. • Assessment of internal and external factors influencing demand. • Quantification of the impact of key demand drivers where appropriate. • Development of a three-year patronage forecast. • Recommendations to improve patronage growth and financial performance. • Stakeholder engagement to validate findings and capture organisational insight. • Production and presentation of a final evidence-based report.