East Midlands Combined County Authority

The #HospitalityConnect event was a huge success, with a great buzz of conversation between the schools and their new hotel partners. The event was hosted at by Robert Watts at Park Plaza Nottingham Hotel and ambassadors from hotels around Nottingham also attended. Faculty leads from Nottingham College highlighted technical and vocational pathways. The hotelier and school partners are now getting underway with planning for encounters with the support of the EMCCA Careers Hub team. Hospitality Connect Ltd - partnering industry with schools

We're looking forward to the Hospitality Connect event today, a programme which connects eight local schools with eight Nottingham hotels, offering students valuable insights into careers in hospitality, catering, tourism, and business. 📅 Launch event details 📍 Date: Thursday 27 March 📍 Time: 4pm to 6pm 📍 Venue: Park Plaza Hotel, Nottingham This event brings together schools, hoteliers, the EMCCA Careers Hub team, the founder of Hospitality Connect, and expert speakers from Nottingham College and Springboard. Hospitality Connect is about inspiring the next generation by showcasing the diverse career pathways within hospitality.

The EMCCA Careers Hub has introduced Panjango, a brand-new interactive careers platform designed to help young people in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, and Nottinghamshire discover job opportunities. This free, game-based tool helps students explore careers in industries like engineering, healthcare, sports, and creative media, while developing key skills like teamwork, problem-solving, and communication. It offers free resources for schools and features content led by employers from across the East Midlands, including major names like Rolls-Royce, Derby County Football Club, and Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Find out more on our website at https://zurl.co/ArANX.

Youth is at the heart of all of the decisions we make here at EMCCA.   Over the past six months, we've been focussed on developing a youth leadership model, offering workshops and other engagement opportunities for young people to tell us directly how they want to be able to influence change in the region. We've heard from over 100 young people in the East Midlands region so far, having hosted our last Youth Committee workshop only last Wednesday.   We're delighted to announce that we will officially be launching our Youth Committee in September this year.   More information will follow in the coming months, but we encourage any young people or youth engagement groups to get in touch with us at youngvoices@eastmidsdevo.org.uk if they want to be part of this exciting journey.

A Landmark Agreement for the Midlands Today, Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward and the Mayor of the West Midlands, Richard Parker signed a historic agreement to strengthen collaboration between the West and East Midlands - unlocking new opportunities for businesses, communities, and our regional economy. Working alongside West Midlands Combined Authority this partnership is about driving economic growth, attracting investment, and reinforcing the Midlands' critical role in the UK economy. Why this matters: ✔️ £132.6 billion economy ✔️ 147,355 businesses ✔️ 5.2 million people ✔️ Home to globally significant industries in manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, life sciences and clean energy With Local Growth Plans shaping both regions in 2025, this agreement focuses on five priority areas where joint action will have the greatest impact: 📌 Clusters and Strategic Supply Chains 📌 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) 📌 Transport and Infrastructure 📌 Research and Intelligence 📌 Regional Leadership This Compact is not just about strategy - it includes a clear action plan to deliver real, tangible benefits for our businesses and communities. 📖 Read the full Compact here 👉 https://zurl.co/pXqZx #MidlandsGrowth #RegionalCollaboration #Investment #EconomicDevelopment #WestMidlands #EastMidlands

Our Deputy Mayor, Nadine Peatfield has been in China, meeting with Chinese regional leaders and industry giants to champion the UK as a top investment destination to secure long-term economic growth, promoting the UK’s strengths in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and digital technology. This major government trade mission is the biggest to China in six years, with representatives from the West Midlands and East Midlands, Liverpool, London, and Salford visiting powerhouse cities: Shenzhen, Chongqing, and Chengdu. A step forward for building strong international partnerships and future growth!

It was great to attend the White Peak Loop launch event earlier this week. The White Peak Loop is a 42-mile circular trail that connects Matlock, Bakewell and Buxton and is a brilliant route for walkers, cyclists, and horse riders, offering a safe and scenic way to explore some of Derbyshire's fantastic landscapes. This project is a huge step forward in making active travel safer, more accessible, and more enjoyable for residents and visitors. By investing in high-quality walking and cycling routes, we’re making it easier for people to choose sustainable transport options. Read more here: https://zurl.co/m42s4 Derbyshire County Council Peak District National Park Visit Peak District and Derbyshire

I had a fantastic visit to the University of Nottingham new Zero Carbon Innovation Centre (ZCIC) recently. The ZCIC is a game-changer for research, industry, and investment—creating jobs, boosting our economy, and delivering real-world climate solutions. The future of transport is being built right here in the East Midlands, as the centre will deliver innovation in transport technology, green hydrogen production, and power solutions. You can read more here - https://zurl.co/rl5fS East Midlands Freeport Research England Loughborough University #ZeroCarbon25 #EastMidlands

The Audit and Governance Committee meeting is being held today at 11am. You can view the agenda and the livestream of this meeting here: https://zurl.co/yOgsD

🍀 Happy St Patrick's Day! 🍀 Our region is home to wonderfully diverse communities, and today is an opportunity to celebrate not only Irish heritage but also the rich cultural tapestry that makes our region so special.