East Midlands secures Government backing for Shared Priorities to drive regional growth

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward has formally secured Government support for a set of shared growth priorities aimed at driving long-term economic growth, investment, and opportunity throughout the region. 

This agreement marks a major milestone in the East Midland’s ambition to lead the way in delivering the Government’s national growth mission, with our region at the heart of that.  

The shared priorities are built around the East Midlands’ strengths and opportunities. Over the next decade, EMCCA and central Government will work together to deliver progress in three key areas.  

Innovation 

• Strengthen links between universities, businesses and research centres 

• Help local businesses make better use of new technologies  

• Attract more investment into high-sector growth 

Skills 

• Improve access to training and support people to get better jobs  

• Work with universities and local businesses to grow specialist skills  

• Create clearer paths in key industries like green energy and digital   

Transport 

• Make local and regional travel faster, more reliable and easier to access 

• Ensure transport needs are reflected in national road and rail plans 

• Explore new and innovative transport solutions for the region 

 These focus areas will form the foundation of EMCCA’s Local Growth Plan, helping to unlock investment, create high-quality jobs and support inclusive growth across the region.  

We welcome the Government’s commitment to aligning national policy and funding with our regional ambitions. The Local Growth Plan will serve as the key vehicle for that collaboration, giving the East Midlands a stronger voice in national decisions and future spending reviews.  

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “I’m in regular contact with the Deputy Prime Minister and her Cabinet colleagues about the huge opportunities for growth in the East Midlands.  

The East Midlands Local Growth Plan crystallises the shared priorities of the people and businesses of the East Midlands and national government. It will be how we secure the future that this region wants to build for itself – something that I and other leaders can use to secure investment into the future.”  

“This is partly about our growth sectors – but also about the enablers of growth, which benefit the entire economy. For us, transport, skills, and innovation are those enablers, and we have been pleased to see that government is backing us on this.” 

“There is more work to do yet, but we are pulling together to develop a plan that can be translated, swiftly, into reality.” 

The Local Growth Plan will include:  

• A detailed overview of the region’s economic strengths, challenges and opportunities 

• A clear set of growth priorities agreed with Government  

• A pipeline of projects and proposals to attract both public and private investment 

Guidance to support the final stages of plan development will be published alongside the upcoming spending review, with publication of the East Midlands Local Growth Plan to follow shortly after.