The Inclusive Growth Commission - East Midlands Combined County Authority

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Why we’ve launched the Inclusive Growth Commission
Meet the Commissioners
Tell us what you think

A major step on the path to growth

We have a vision to make the East Midlands one of the best places in the country to live, work, and visit.

Our region was the birthplace of the industrial revolution, and now we’re setting out a roadmap to invest billions of pounds in a new future which allows all our people and places to thrive.

The Inclusive Growth Commission will see regional and national experts working together to set out the current picture of the East Midland’s strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities. The commission is exploring solutions that will deliver long-term improvements for our communities, allowing them to fulfil their potential while delivering economic growth across the East Midlands.

Mayor Claire Ward and council leaders across the region appointed the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) to run the high-profile commission.

Why we’ve launched the Inclusive Growth Commission

We want to do the best for our region and so the commission will focus on these 10 key objectives which will help towards our long-term Local Growth Plan of:

Growing our economy faster
Better matching the supply of people from the skills system to the needs of employers
Creating more, better paid job opportunities
Increasing the pace of our economy’s journey to Net Zero
Building the new homes our residents need in the right places and to the right standards
Improving physical and digital connectivity for all parts of our region
Reducing the inequalities within our region that distort too many people’s social mobility
Having a healthier, more work-ready population
Ensuring more residents and visitors can experience a vibrant natural environment
Enabling more important decisions to be made locally

About the Inclusive Growth Commission

How will the Inclusive Growth Commission work?

The Inclusive Growth Commission’s findings and strategy will be developed in collaboration with a wide range of groups and organisations, including councils, businesses, colleges, universities, and trade unions across the East Midlands.

The recommendations from the Commission will inform future investment proposals for up to £4billion of public investment by the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA).

What questions will the Inclusive Growth Commission answer?

The Commission will provide answers to these key challenges set by the Mayor of the East Midlands:

- What does inclusive growth mean for the region? What will communities feel is different in ten years’ time from a successful inclusive growth strategy?

What are the region’s unique combination of strengths? How can it best leverage its economic assets across cities, towns and rural areas to growth these?
What are the root causes that sit behind the region’s well-established challenges in achieving inclusive growth? How can the region tackle these challenges to enable its full potential to be unleashed?
What role can EMCCA play to effect change, alone and with its partners, including as part of the systems of public services?

What does the interim report show?

The Commission unveiled its initial report in March 2025. It set out the current picture of the East Midlands’ strengths, challenges and opportunities and called for a step change in investment in the region. The report outlined eight emerging findings:

A wider range of job opportunities in manufacturing, logistics, construction, health and social care, and modern service industries will benefit local people.
Employers and the government must play their part in making these jobs secure, well-paid, and rewarding.
The region needs a new partnership between businesses, educators, and the government to support people to get the skills they need for better paid jobs.
Health and employment support services need to work well together to get both younger and older people into work.
Organisations in the region need to work to build aspiration from a young age and strengthen local communities.
Access to quality, affordable housing is a priority, with better transport options connecting communities to jobs.
An economic strategy will help the region to make the most of its strengths and opportunities.
The East Midlands Combined County Authority should continue to drive growth and investment that will benefit all of the region’s residents.

Read the interim report

What happens next?

The commission unveiled a first report in Spring 2025 setting out the current picture of the East Midlands’ strengths, challenges and opportunities.

This will be followed by the full report, which will be published in Autumn 2025.

How can you get involved?

We want leaders and champions from across the system in the East Midlands to help shape the work of the commission.

If you would like to get involved or want to find out more about the East Midlands Inclusive Growth Commission, please contact the team at eastmidlandsigc@rsa.org.uk.

Meet the commissioners

The Commission will be chaired by Andy Haldane, the former Chief Economist for the Bank of England and Chief Executive of the RSA.

A board of Commissioners has been appointed with a wealth of expertise, experience and understanding of the challenges we’re facing.

Andy Haldane - Chair of the IGC, CEO of the RSA

Marvin Rees - former Mayor of Bristol

Sarah Gordon - former CEO of Impact Investing Institute

Sir John Peace - Chair of the Midlands Engine

Dr Andy Haynes - Exec Lead of Notts ICS

Gillian Sewell - CEO of Derbyshire YMCA

Sir Keith Burnett - Chair of Nuffield Foundation

Dame Julia Cleverdon - Chair of Place Matters

Tell us what you think

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