Digbeth Dining Club and NCASS team up with the West Midlands Combined Authority to deliver a new incubator programme helping local traders turn their food dreams into thriving businesses.
The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has launched a brand-new Street Food Incubator Programme, designed to support and grow the region’s next wave of independent food businesses.
Over the next few months, 36 up-and-coming traders from across Birmingham, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, Dudley, and Wolverhampton will take part in a free programme of training, workshops, mentoring, and live trading — helping them build the skills, confidence, and experience to take their businesses to the next level.
The West Midlands is home to one of the UK’s most exciting food scenes — from fine dining restaurants and desi pubs to iconic street food markets and the legendary Balti Triangle. These businesses shape the region’s identity and play a vital role in local employment and community life. Supporting their growth is a key priority for the WMCA Mayor and regional partners.
That’s why NCASS (The Nationwide Caterers Association) and Digbeth Dining Club have been appointed to deliver this pilot — combining NCASS’s industry expertise with DDC’s decade-long experience championing independent street food talent across the region.
“Over the past decade, Digbeth Dining Club has been proud to champion independent street food talent across the region — helping to shape a vibrant and diverse food scene that’s become a huge part of the West Midlands’ cultural identity,” said Jack Brabant, Director of Digbeth Dining Club.
“This incubator is a fantastic opportunity to build on that work, providing the next generation of traders with the tools, training, and support they need to take their businesses to the next level.” – Jack Brabant
Alan Fox, CEO of NCASS, added:
“We are proud to support caterers and entrepreneurs in the West Midlands to make the next step in growing their businesses. Street food is one of the most inspiring, diverse, and dynamic parts of the hospitality sector — and this pilot is a chance to help more traders thrive.”
Participants will complete the incubator between October and December 2025, with hands-on training in December and live trading opportunities running from February to April 2026.
The programme is free to join, but applicants must already be based in the West Midlands and ready to start trading within three months of joining.
If you’ve got a street food idea ready to serve, now’s the time to make it happen.
