West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker has announced the launch of a new operational base in Wolverhampton, delivering on his pledge to work more collaboratively across the West Midlands and strengthen ties with Black Country communities.
The new base, called the ‘Collab Hub’, has been opened on a trial basis inside the Wolverhampton Civic Centre, following an agreement between the Mayor, the West Midlands Combined Authority and City of Wolverhampton Council.
The Collab Hub will allow the Mayor and WMCA staff to work more closely with council teams and local partners on projects designed to improve living standards, drive regeneration and support communities across the Black Country.
Up to ten WMCA staff will be able to use the dedicated workspace at any one time. In return, Wolverhampton Council staff will be able to use office space at the WMCA’s Birmingham headquarters when needed.
The move follows a key manifesto commitment from Mayor Parker to establish operational bases outside Birmingham, ensuring more responsive, place‑based collaboration with local areas.
The base is being provided free of charge by the council during the trial period. If successful, similar hubs could be launched in other parts of the West Midlands, giving WMCA a stronger local presence across the region.
The Collab Hub is located on the first floor of the Wolverhampton Civic Centre in St Peter’s Square, placing WMCA teams alongside existing public sector partners already based in the building.
The Civic Centre is no stranger to co‑location models. It is already home to:
- The NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, which occupies permanent office space
- More than 500 University of Wolverhampton staff who relocated there in November, including teams from finance, HR, recruitment and marketing
These moves reflect a wider effort to promote public sector partnering, maximise collaboration and improve service delivery across the region.
The hub will support:
- Faster collaboration between WMCA and local councils
- More efficient delivery of key projects
- Better alignment of regional programmes with local needs
- Stronger visibility for the Mayor across the Black Country
Announcing the move, Mayor Richard Parker said:
"This Collab Hub is about working shoulder to shoulder with our local councils and others to bring real change for local people quickly and effectively.
"I made a commitment when I was elected to explore how to make the work of the Mayor and WMCA more accessible, visible and accountable.
“But I didn’t want any promise of a Black Country office to be tokenistic. It needed to be a useful base that works and delivers for local communities.
“I also wanted to make sure it did not cost the taxpayer more money, so I'm delighted we've been able to make this agreement with the council."
Image credit: iStock
