East Midlands Combined County Authority

🍀 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.

The Inclusive Growth Commission set out bold recommendations to transform the East Midlands economy today at an event at NTU Mansfield's University Hub. At this event, co-hosted by the Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward and Chair of the Commission and CEO of the The RSA (The royal society for arts, manufactures and commerce) Andy Haldane, the Commission presented its interim report to stakeholders and partners. In its interim report, the Commission called for a step change in investment in the East Midlands, arguing we need to be quick on the fast-track for more powers, funding and flexibility. The commission drew on the East Midlands’ unique geography and economic landscape, identifying the strengths, challenges, and opportunities that will shape its final report, and subsequent strategy, to be published in September 2025. Read more on our website: https://zurl.co/Zuv9e Vision West Nottinghamshire College

The East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) has approved nearly £175 million for transport improvements in the next year (2025/26). This funding will be used for: ✅ Urgent road repairs and highways improvements ✅ Making travel easier with better public transport connections and bus service upgrades ✅ Walking and cycling infrastructure to promote greener travel Funding will be shared between EMCCA and four local councils: Derby City Council, Derbyshire County Council, Nottingham City Council, and Nottinghamshire County Council to support projects that make travel safer, greener, and more reliable. Read more here: https://zurl.co/pdTER

A new pot of funding has been agreed to help young people who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET) and match them to opportunities in the East Midlands. The Youth Guarantee Trailblazer initiative, approved by Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, has £5 million in funding to help young people overcome barriers. This project builds on the success of the EMCCA Careers Hub, which already helps young people explore their education and career options. The Youth Guarantee Trailblazer will focus on three key areas: ✅ Smooth transitions from education to work ✅ Tailored support for those facing barriers ✅ Employer partnerships to create job opportunities This is a big step towards tackling youth unemployment and building a more inclusive workforce. If your organisation wants to get involved, we’d love to hear from you. Email us by Tuesday 18 March at youngvoices@eastmidsdevo.org.uk.

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward has launched a £3 million Mayoral Community Development Fund to support the region’s most disadvantaged communities. Over the next three years, the fund will help 10 to 12 areas in our region strengthen local networks and help groups get started. The goal is to help communities become more self-sufficient, so they can shape local services, attract funding and take on new projects.  With backing from local organisations like Community Action Derby, this fund will make a real difference in areas facing high deprivation, limited community support, and economic challenges. Read more here: https://zurl.co/sS7yT.

We’re proud to have worked with BakerBaird Communications and Nottingham College to support meaningful change right here in our city, county, and region. A big thank you to the incredible young women in this video who are breaking down barriers, challenging stereotypes, and building careers for life. Let's keep pushing for progress! #IWD2025 #InternationalWomensDay

We’re proud to launch the East Midlands Combined County Authority’s first-ever Corporate Plan, setting out our goals for inclusive growth, economic development, improving transport systems and much more. The plan looks at the year ahead, bringing together the ambition and priorities of the Mayor, the EMCCA Board and the work being taken forward by our Portfolio Leads. It focuses on nine key themes that are central to our vision of a thriving East Midlands including regional strategy, business growth, skills and employment, net-zero, transport and digital connectivity, housing and regeneration, spatial development, farming and rural affairs, and platform and partnerships. We are ready to continue our progress, building on our achievements, and addressing future challenges to make the East Midlands the best place to live, to work, and to learn. You can view the Corporate Plan on our website at: https://zurl.co/wYtXy

The East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) Board meeting is being held today at 11am. You can view the agenda and the livestream of this meeting here: https://zurl.co/Ou36C.

Today, we mark the Day of Reflection across the UK for the COVID-19 pandemic. 2025 marks five years since the pandemic began and we continue to honour and remember those affected. It is an opportunity to come together to remember those who lost their lives since the pandemic began and to honour the tireless work and acts of kindness shown during this unprecedented time. https://zurl.co/px2t7

Today is International Women’s Day and we have some incredible female leaders heading up senior roles across the East Midlands. Not only do we have a female Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward and a female Chief Executive, Amy Harhoff here at EMCCA, many of our partner councils in the region are also led by women - with a female Chief Executive, Sajeeda Rose and a female Leader, Cllr Neghat Khan, at Nottingham City Council; Emma Alexander, the Managing Director, at Derbyshire County Council; and our very own Deputy Mayor, Cllr Nadine Peatfield. We, as a region, are about empowering more young women to see themselves in leadership roles. So, we brought together some of these amazing female leaders to talk about their experiences and the importance of supporting more women to see their own potential and not let gender be a barrier for success. This year's theme for IWD is Accelerate Action and we need to collectively work together for gender equality – especially in leadership. #InternationalWomensDay #IWD2025