Mayor of the East Midlands unveils 10-year plan to drive inclusive growth and create thousands of jobs

Residents across the East Midlands could see better jobs, more affordable homes and stronger, fairer communities under a bold new 10-year strategy launched today.

The East Midlands Growth Plan 2025–2035 sets out a long-term vision to deliver fast, fair growth for all — ensuring that every community across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire benefits from economic progress.

The plan aims to add £13 billion to the regional economy, support 60,000 more people into work, deliver over 100,000 new homes, create 210,000 new qualifications, and invest more than £2 billion in transport infrastructure to better connect people to jobs and opportunity.

At its core is a commitment to inclusive growth — ensuring that the benefits of economic success are shared fairly, and that investment reaches the people and places where it will make the biggest difference.

“Turning potential into prosperity”

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said:

For the first time, we have a growth plan that is backed by the region and puts us in pole position to succeed.
This plan is about unlocking growth while tackling inequality, creating better jobs, fairer pay, and new opportunities in every community. By working with business, government, and local partners, we can build a stronger, more inclusive economy that delivers for everyone.

The East Midlands has the people, the ideas and the determination to drive Britain’s growth. We must now turn our potential into prosperity, creating the right conditions for business to thrive and local people to succeed.”

I want the East Midlands to be one of the UK’s fastest growing and most inclusive regional economies – a place where people are proud to live, work, and build their futures. This plan is the roadmap to get us there.

Mayor Claire Ward. Credit: East Midlands Combined County Authority

Driving growth through key sectors

The plan highlights clean energy, MedTech and life sciences, advanced manufacturing, digital industries, and the visitor economy as the key sectors that will power future growth.

Major regional projects such as the Trent Arc and Supercluster are central to this vision — together expected to deliver £3.3 billion in economic value and create over 55,000 high-quality jobs.

Inclusive Growth Framework

A cornerstone of the strategy is EMCCA’s Inclusive Growth Framework, which builds on the findings of the East Midlands Inclusive Growth Commission.

It sets out a vision for 2040 where every young person has a fair start, every resident has a route to good work, and every community shares in the region’s success.

Through practical measures such as improving skills, housing, and transport, alongside the Opportunity Escalator — a pathway to better jobs — the framework turns ambition into action.

Support from business leaders

David Williams, chair of EMCCA’s business advisory board, said:

This is an exciting plan with a bold ambition to place the East Midlands at the very forefront of the UK economy, especially in key, growing sectors such as clean energy, medical technology and advanced manufacturing.
Backed by a stronger local skills base, with more apprenticeships and graduate retention, businesses will be supported to grow, scale and innovate, with upgraded infrastructure to cut costs and boost competitiveness, alongside improved access to finance, investment, and export markets.

Building a region that works for everyone

The East Midlands Growth Plan was formally approved by the EMCCA Board on Monday 13 October 2025 and launched at Derby’s Museum of Making, where business and civic leaders pledged to help “drive inclusive growth that benefits every person and place across the East Midlands.”

The Growth Plan is the first in a new suite of mayoral strategies — including the upcoming Mayor’s Transport Plan and Get East Midlands Working Plan — that will together deliver the Mayor’s vision of inclusive, sustainable growth.

For residents, it promises better-paid jobs, new training opportunities, affordable and energy-efficient homes, and improved transport links.
For businesses, it offers a clearer route to invest, scale, and thrive — in a region that’s open for growth.