Groundbreaking commission to supercharge East Midlands launched - RSA press release - RSA

Groundbreaking commission to supercharge East Midlands launched

Press release

  • Business and entrepreneurship
  • Democracy and governance
  • Economy
  • Education and learning
  • Environment
  • Work and employment

Today, the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) and the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) launch the Inclusive Growth Commission, which will identify and put into action radical new plans to unleash potential and supercharge prosperity in communities across the East Midlands.

Commissioners from the East Midlands and beyond will draw on their extensive knowledge from different sector backgrounds to generate creative, long-term ideas for growth rooted in cutting edge evidence, community insights and conversations with local leaders.

The Commission will act as a critical friend to the combined authority and offer bold new solutions to address the stark inequalities that persist in communities and bring greater opportunity to the region. 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).

Commissioners include Sir John Peace, business leader and Chair of the Midlands Engine; Dr Andy Haynes, senior Nottinghamshire healthcare leader; Marvin Rees, former Mayor of Bristol City; Sir Keith Burnett, Chair of the Nuffield Foundation; Dame Julia Cleverdon, former CEO of Business in the Community; Sarah Gordon, founding CEO of the Impact Investing Institute; and Gillian Sewell, CEO of Derbyshire YMCA.

The Commission will unveil a first interim report in March 2025, setting out the current picture of the East Midlands’ strengths, challenges and opportunities, and this will be followed by the full report in September 2025 which will set out a vision and roadmap for the next decade.

The Inclusive Growth Commission will be chaired by CEO of the RSA and former Chief Economist of the Bank of England, Andy Haldane.

Andy Haldane, CEO of the RSA and Chair of the Inclusive Growth Commission, said: “I am excited to be chairing this new commission which has the potential to unlock tens of millions in growth across this dynamic region. By taking a fresh look at the many opportunities underpinning the East Midlands economy, we will seek to supercharge the region, bolster job opportunities, and make progress towards net zero.

“At the RSA, our Design for Life mission draws on the ingenuity and interconnectedness of communities and local leaders around the country- not least through our Prosperous Places work. I look forward to seeing that come to life in the year ahead.”

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, said: “Inclusive growth means creating opportunities for all — good jobs, quality education, and thriving local economies that work for every single resident. It’s about ensuring no one is left behind as we build a prosperous, sustainable future.

“Whether you live in one of our vibrant cities or a rural town or village, this will make a real difference to how we lift our region.

“I’m proud to have put together this ambitious commission, and together, we will make the East Midlands the best place to live, work, and learn.”

Commissioner Sir John Peace said: “I know from my own experience that the East Midlands is a place that can lead the world. It is brimming with inventive spirit, and has a long tradition of taking new ideas and turning them into innovations that change people’s lives.

“But we can do better. We now need to apply that inventive spirit to the challenge of connecting more of our communities to prosperity and I’m delighted to be joining the Inclusive Growth Commission and playing a part in that process.”

Commissioner Gillian Sewell added: “The East Midlands is an outstanding region that has so much to offer and be proud of.

“We can build on this strong foundation and deliver meaningful benefits by lifting the prosperity of our all our communities whilst supporting the wellbeing of our people.”

The Commission’s recommendations will inform an Inclusive Growth Strategy for the East Midlands that offers a long-term plan for people who live, work and study there the opportunity to fulfil their potential.  Recommendations will also be rooted in the RSA’s unique Prosperous Places model, which combines economic, social and natural factors.

The Commission’s findings and strategy will be developed in close collaboration with councils, businesses, colleges, universities and trade unions across the East Midlands.

Each commissioner has been appointed by Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands. Each will bring their own expertise from a raft of sectors, including business and commerce, healthcare, journalism and regional government.

The RSA and EMCCA will now work with the Inclusive Growth Commission ahead of the first report launch in March 2025, with a final report set to be published in September 2025.

ENDS


Notes to editors

Andy Haldane, CEO of the RSA, and Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, are available for interview. Please contact us if you would like to bid.

For more information, please contact Ben Oliver, RSA's Head of News and Public Affairs at ben.oliver@rsa.org.uk, or Fran Collingham,  Director of Communications at East Midlands County Combined Authority at fran.collingham@eastmidsdevo.org.uk

About the RSA

We are the RSA, the royal society for arts, manufactures and commerce. We are a social impact charity that has been at the forefront of social change for 270 years. Through our Design for Life mission, we turn world-leading ideas into world-changing actions. We’re committed to a world where everyone can fulfil their potential and contribute to more resilient, rebalanced, and regenerative futures. Central to all our work is our global network of over 31,000 Fellows, who work collectively to enable people, places and the planet to flourish in harmony.

We invite you to be part of this mission by joining our fellowship community. Together, we’ll unite people and ideas in collective action to unlock opportunities and regenerate our world.

About East Midlands Combined County Authority

The East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) is led by Mayor Claire Ward and covers the four local authority areas of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby and Nottingham. Its priorities include transport, housing, the visitor economy, economic growth, skills and adult education and net zero.

Find out more here: eastmidlands-cca.gov.uk

Prosperous Places

Every person deserves to live in a vibrant community, with opportunities to thrive in a flourishing natural environment.

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