We’re working together with our partners to shine a spotlight on the East Midlands at the UK’s premier economic development event, the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF), taking place this year from 21-23 May in Leeds.
UKREiiF aims to connect people, places and businesses to drive sustainable and inclusive investment – regenerating towns, cities and driving development – which in turn have a positive impact on communities, economic growth and prosperity.
Representatives from D2N2 LEP will be attending UKREiiF and we are leading an interactive panel discussion on 22 May ‘Focus on the East Midlands: our Time is NOW’.
During our panel session, delegates will hear directly from the new East Midlands Mayor* and senior leaders from D2N2 LEP, East Midlands Freeport and the East Midlands Development Company, who will outline investment and development opportunities in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and explain how devolution is set to transform the East Midlands region.
With access to up to £4 billion funding to invest in skills, transport, homes and regeneration and decarbonisation, the East Midlands devolution deal represents a once in a generation opportunity for our new East Midlands Mayor to use their new powers and new funding to drive growth and prosperity across the region. Our panellists will discuss major infrastructure investment propositions coming on stream in our region such as the East Midlands Investment Zone, the STEP Fusion programme and the East Midlands Hydrogen cluster.
Our panellists are:
The newly elected East Midlands Mayor*
Elizabeth Fagan CBE, Chair D2N2 LEP
Nora Senior CBE, Chair, East Midlands Freeport
Sir Chris Haworth, Chair, East Midlands Development Company
*The East Midlands Mayor will confirm attendance following the results of the election on 2 May
Our panel will be chaired by independent broadcaster Geeta Pendse
D2N2 LEP Chair, Elizabeth Fagan CBE, said:
“During the panel, I’m looking forward to discussing the wealth of investable propositions we have in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, such as the East Midlands Investment Zone, that will focus on advanced manufacturing and green industries. The Investment Zone will complement our region’s low carbon prowess in nuclear and hydrogen, in particular the STEP Fusion programme in North Nottinghamshire and our East Midlands Hydrogen Consortium, our unique inland hydrogen collaboration cluster. The East Midlands is on the cusp of a very exciting future and it’s vital that we seize the momentum that devolution brings to transform our region.”
Working together to shine a spotlight on the East Midlands
We are delighted to be working closely with partners including Marketing Derby, Invest in Nottingham and Destination Chesterfield. As ‘Team East Midlands’ with a strong presence at UKREiiF, we’ll ensure the spotlight shines on our region, amplifying the huge opportunities that we’ll seize through devolution.
Megan Powell Vreeswijk, Chief Executive of Marketing Nottingham & Nottinghamshire, which includes Invest in Nottingham, said:
“The East Midlands Combined County Authority and East Midlands Mayor will bring an elevation in voice and opportunities to the region. This will drive national and international interest and bring an uplift, not only to our economy, but to our live, work and play priorities.”
John Forkin, Managing Director at Marketing Derby, said:
“The D2N2 area is about to take a significant step, making us a premier location for Government support. We anticipate a consequent uptick in investment enquiries.”
Peter Swallow, Chair of Destination Chesterfield said:
“UKREiiF is an excellent opportunity to showcase our region, which we know has huge potential for investment and growth. Chesterfield has seen a significant amount of major regeneration over the past decade, with several multi-million-pound projects still coming forward.
“We look forward to seeing how devolution in the East Midlands will bring further growth to our town and surrounding areas – improving jobs, skills, infrastructure and quality of life for our people.”
Our panel details
Join our interactive panel session at UKREiiF to discuss how Team East Midlands is working together to unlock our £4bn investment opportunity and create a brighter future for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. The panel is free to attend for delegates attending UKREiiF.
Focus on the East Midlands: Our Time is NOW
Panel discussion at UKREiiF
DATE: Wednesday 22 May 2024
TIME: 14.15 – 15.15
LOCATION: Newsroom Stage, Royal Armouries, Leeds
Link to book your place https://UKREiiF-EMfocus.eventbrite.co.uk
East Midlands Devolution
Following the East Midlands devolution deal, agreed with Government ministers in 2022, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby and Nottingham will benefit from more control and more funding and now have a new combined authority covering their region – the East Midlands Combined County Authority that came into being at the end of February 2024.
The deal will improve the region’s economy and improve livelihoods for the region’s 2.2m residents. It will give the East Midlands the national voice it deserves, to champion major infrastructure and turn round historic under-investment in the East Midlands to benefit the regional economy, through a newly elected Mayor.
D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) covers the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire region, convening the businesses, universities, colleges and local authorities in our region to drive low carbon, economic growth and productivity, skills & careers, inclusion and delivery excellence. The D2N2 LEP team and functions will transition into the East Midlands Combined County Authority during 2024.
Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire is the official Place Marketing Organisation (PMO) for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. The organisation is responsible for growing the local economy through encouraging inward investment, attracting business and leisure visitors, student retention and aligning with the local business community. Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire is made up of four departments: Visit Nottinghamshire (including Nottingham Tourism Centre), Meet in Nottingham, Invest in Nottingham and Nottingham Partners.
Marketing Derby is the Queen’s award-winning investment promotion agency for Derby. The company is a public-private partnership, funded by Derby City Council and over 350 local business Bondholders who are committed to improving their place and by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. It promotes Derby on the national and international stage to attract and support investment.
Destination Chesterfield is a marketing campaign which is helping to improve the economic prosperity of Chesterfield by promoting it as a contemporary destination to inward investors.
The campaign was established in 2010, funded through support from local businesses and Chesterfield Borough Council. The local business community plays a central role in the campaign’s success by leading an independent board of directors and pledging their support through the Chesterfield Champions scheme.
For media enquiries, contact:
Nicola Swaney
Head of External Affairs, D2N2 LEP
Nicola.Swaney@d2n2lep.org
