Call for challenge owners: Join councils across the Belfast Region in a £4.3m opportunity to explore new ways to tackle public sector service challenges through funding, expert support and innovation methods.
Public services are under growing pressure. Budget constraints, climate change, the cost-of-living crisis, and rising demand mean councils need new ways to respond to complex challenges. And without time, support, and a structured route into innovation funding, fresh ideas can be hard to progress.
The Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD) Contracts for Innovation (CfI) is a new £4.3m regional programme led by Belfast City Council on behalf of the six partner councils. It will help councils identify important service challenges and work with the market to develop innovative solutions. You can read more about the Contracts for Innovation model in the UKRI’s Contracts for Innovation guidance.
Contracts for Innovation Readiness Module
The first step is the launch of the Contracts for Innovation Readiness Module, a six-week development sprint taking place in early Autumn 2026.
Delivered in partnership with PPL, the Readiness Module will help prospective Challenge Owners build the skills and practical understanding needed to take part successfully. PPL is a social impact consultancy with extensive experience in designing and delivering complex innovation and systems change programmes.
The opportunity
The Contracts for Innovation Readiness Module is an opportunity to be part of an ambitious regional programme that combines funding, expert support, skills and capability building to address current and future service challenges.
By taking part in the Readiness Module, you will have the opportunity to:
- develop and present a real-world challenge relevant to your business operations area, council or communities;
- understand how the Contracts for Innovation model works in practice;
- build your confidence and capability in challenge-led innovation;
- work with colleagues across service, digital, data and procurement functions to strengthen readiness; and
- connect with peers from across the region who are also seeking to make change by addressing service led challenges.
Completing the Readiness Module will prepare you to participate in the wider CfI Programme and propose a challenge for potential funding and market engagement.
Register your interest
The Readiness Module is open to councils in the Belfast Region City Deal area only: Antrim and Newtownabbey, Ards and North Down, Belfast, Lisburn and Castlereagh, Mid and East Antrim, and Newry, Mourne and Down.
If you would like to take part, please complete the Expression of Interest form
Please note that spaces are limited. We are seeking to recruit between 16–24 people to take part in the programme. Registration for EOI will close on the 21 August 2026.
Readiness module dates (full participation is required):
- 9 September 2026 – All day, in person at Belfast City Hall
- 16 September 2026 – Half day, virtual
- 23 September 2026 – Half day, virtual
- 30 September 2026 – Half day, virtual
- 7 October 2026 – Half day, virtual
- 19 October 2026 – All day, in person at Belfast City Hall
Drop-in sessions
We will be hosting two virtual drop-in sessions in August 2026 for prospective participants.
If you would like to join either of these sessions or have any questions about the programme, please email Collette McCann mccanncollette@belfastcity.gov.uk
The Contracts for Innovation programme is funded by the Belfast Region City Deal.
