Making the East Midlands the best region to ‘live, work and learn in’

The Mayor of the East Midlands has called on Marketing Derby’s Bondholder community to help her deliver better skills, jobs and opportunities for the region.

Speaking at her very first London Embassy event, Claire Ward, the figurehead of the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), explained what devolution means for region – and how Derby has a key role to play in bringing about positive change.

She said: “I’m incredibly proud to be the first mayor of the East Midlands – and we really need this in this region.

“The opportunity to lift our region, to ensure we have the connectivity of so many potential investments, but most of all to give to the people of the East Midlands the chance that they have been lacking for so many years.

“The investment, the opportunity for even better skills, even better jobs, for a transport system that’s connected and affordable: those are the big challenges that face us in the East Midlands.

“The role of the new combined authority and mine as the mayor is to try to bring all of those things together in a strategic way.

“I don’t underestimate how big a challenge that is – but as every one of you knows in business if it’s a big challenge you know it will be a big gain if you succeed.”

Claire stressed that EMCCA cannot achieve these things in isolation – and that the backing and support of partners across the region was crucial.

She said: “We must do it in partnership. I’m absolutely delighted to be here supporting one of the key partners we have within the combined authority – not just Marketing Derby but all of the businesses represented here who are Bondholders – you are our partners who will be able to help us deliver, not just for Derby, but right across the rest of the East Midlands.”

Claire’s speech at Mansion House coincided with the launch of a new Inclusive Growth Commission, chaired by Andy Haldane – the former chief economist of the Bank of England – which will recommend how EMCCA invests a £4 billion funding pot.

Sitting on that commission is Gillian Sewell, the chief executive of YMCA Derbyshire, who also attended last night’s embassy.

Claire said: “The commission will help us identify how we best invest, how we ensure that growth really is sustainable and inclusive.

“We know that in our cities and rural communities there is an incredible amount of deprivation and a lack of opportunity.

“If devolution doesn’t bring a change, transform the lives of some of those who are the most deprived in our community, then we will not have succeeded.

“The commission will help us identify the things we need to do to join aspects of policy up and change to transform the lives of people across our region, not just in the next four or five years, but over the next 10 years and beyond.”

Claire said she believes the region already has the foundations in place for success – further boosted by recent confirmation by the Chancellor of £160 million to establish an East Midlands Investment Zone, which includes Derby’s Infinity Park.

She said: “We have a lot to work with in our region – fantastic businesses, great international global names like Rolls-Royce, Toyota, Alstom, Boots – and the SME community.

“We also have huge talent in our people – in our universities and in our communities – which needs to be unleashed.

“So, I’m equally delighted that in the last Budget the Chancellor announced that we will have our funding for the East Midlands Investment Zone.

“Rolls-Royce sits at the heart of one of those at Infinity Park, as does the Nuclear Skills Academy.”

Finally, Claire said she will be working with partners – including Marketing Derby – to attract more overseas investment to the region.

She said: “Over the next few years, we will be working with you and all of our partners, and particularly with Marketing Derby, to encourage even greater international investment.

“Our role is to highlight the East Midlands – to show that devolution can work for us – and that we can indeed be a greater sum than our parts.

“Derby is at the heart of everything we will do in that. I look forward to working with you to make the East Midlands the best region to live in, to work in and to learn in.”