Mayor unveils 10-year plan to drive growth and create jobs

Derbyshire residents, could see better jobs, more affordable homes and stronger, fairer communities through a bold, new, 10-year growth plan.

The East Midlands Growth Plan 2025-2035 sets out a long-term vision to deliver fast, fair growth for all, ensuring every community benefits from economic progress.   

The plan will add £13 billion to the regional economy and support 60,000 more people into work over the next decade. It also sets ambitious goals to deliver more than 100,000 homes, 210,000 new qualifications, and invest more than £2bn in new transport infrastructure to better connect people to jobs and opportunity.   

At its heart is a commitment to inclusive growth, ensuring the proceeds of economic success are shared fairly, with investment directed where it will have the greatest impact on people’s lives.   

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.”   

The plan identifies key sectors which will power future growth, including clean energy, MedTech and life sciences, advanced manufacturing, digital industries, and the visitor economy. It also outlines major place-based projects such as the Trent Arc and Supercluster, which together could deliver £3.3bn in economic value and create more than 55,000 high-quality jobs.   

EMCCA’s Inclusive Growth Framework, developed from the East Midlands Inclusive Growth Commission’s findings, is a key step in ensuring everyone in the region benefits from growth. It sets out a vision for 2040 in which every young person has a fair start, every resident has a route to good work, and every community shares in the region’s success.   

Using practical ideas like better skills, housing, transport, and the Opportunity Escalator pathway to better jobs, the Framework turns this vision into action. The East Midlands Growth Plan puts the Framework into practice by guiding investment, supporting local industries, and creating thriving communities with fair opportunities for all.   

Mayor Claire said: “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.”   

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

For residents, this means more chances to access training, better-paid jobs, affordable energy-efficient homes, and improved transport links that make daily life easier. For business, it means a clearer route to invest, scale, and thrive in a region that’s open for growth.