The Street Food Incubator Pilot, led by industry experts Digbeth Dining Club (DDC) and the Nationwide Caterers Association (NCASS), is backed by Mayor of the West Midlands Richard Parker and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
Connecting with the UK’s burgeoning street food sector, currently valued at £1.2bn, the pilot is designed to encourage and support street food ventures and will see all aspects of preparation for trading for pilot participants delivered, including registering a business, insurance, safety management, HR and training through to operational, business and development skills.
Businesses and people located in Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton can apply with successful applicants graduating from the programme in spring 2026.
“We’re really excited for Digbeth Dining Club to be working alongside NCASS and the West Midlands Combined Authority on the WMCA Street Food Incubator Pilot,” says Jack Brabant, co-founder of DDC.
“For over a decade, we’ve been passionate about giving independent street food traders a platform to grow, and it’s amazing to see how far the scene has come across the region.
“This pilot is a brilliant opportunity to take that support even further — helping the next generation of traders gain the skills, confidence, and experience they need to turn their ideas into sustainable businesses.
“The West Midlands has always been full of creativity and talent. Through this partnership we can continue to nurture that energy, support local entrepreneurship, and strengthen our independent hospitality scene for the future.”
Following training and development, successful Street Food Incubator Pilot participants will trade at curated DDC events - markets and events across all WMCA areas, community events, festivals, and pop-ups across the region.
They will gain feedback on performance, customer interaction, and operational efficiency and will have full use of DDC’s infrastructure, such as pitch space, kitchens, promotional support throughout the trading phase of the project.
Application are now open via the NCASS website.