More than 115 people from across the region came together in Nottingham this week to hear the Mayor of the East Midlands Claire Ward, and Amy Harhoff, Chief Executive of the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), officially launch the East Midlands’ vision for UKREiiF, the largest investment and development event in the UK.
The Mayor outlined her plans to promote the East Midlands region with a clear, consistent message in Leeds, united across public and private sectors. One region, with one voice, and a compelling offer for investors and partners.
The East Midlands presence at the three-day event, which routinely attracts more than 15,000 people, will be anchored in the East Midlands Pavilion, which will host a series of major sessions and announcements from Tuesday 20 to Thursday 22 May.
They include the launch of the first-ever East Midlands Spatial Vision, which showcases seven major investment opportunities across the region which support key global industries, housing need, and a ground-breaking national clean energy project, STEP Fusion.
Speaking at the launch event on 7 May, the day that marked one year since Mayor Claire started her role as the very first Mayor of the East Midlands, Mayor Claire said: “The energy in the room here has been incredible and we can see why – we’ve got a serious offer for investors, we’ll be going as one region with one voice, and we’ve got a clear pipeline to deliver 100,000 new jobs, 52,000 new homes and a £4 billion boost to the East Midlands economy.
“My message to East Midlands businesses, and to anyone who shares my ambition to make this region the best place to work, live and learn, is: talk to me, talk to my team, because we’re building something exciting in the East Midlands and we want you to be part of it.”
The Mayor was joined on stage by East Midlands Combined County Authority CEO Amy Harhoff, who added: “We’re a region of global strengths – world-class universities, global companies such as Rolls-Royce and Toyota, cutting-edge innovations like STEP Fusion, East Midlands Airport, East Midlands Freeport and the East Midlands Investment Zone.
“By unlocking all the potential of these assets, we’re building a pipeline that will put more people in work, deliver more homes for families, and driving progress in a region that will continue to power the UK economy.”
Matt Christie, UKREiiF’s Director of External Relations and Event Programme, was the final keynote speaker at the event and applauded the clarity, enthusiasm and level of ambition demonstrated by Mayor Claire and Amy, and supported by partners across the East Midlands region.
You can view the watch the video and access the presentation slides from the UKREiiF launch event below:
Published on: 9 May 2025
Categories: News, Economic Development