10-year plan to boost jobs, skills and health in East Midlands 

A new 10-year strategy has been launched to help more people across the East Midlands access good jobs, increase earnings and improve their health and wellbeing. 

The Get East Midlands Working Plan (2025–35) was unveiled at Derby College, where East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward met participants from East Midlands Railway’s SWAP training programme to hear how local employment support is helping people into work. 

The plan sets out three priorities to support residents across Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire. These include targeted training and employment support, a more coordinated system across public services and action to remove wider barriers such as transport, housing and access to healthcare. 

Mayor Ward said:

“The Get East Midlands Working Plan is our commitment to the people of the region that, if they step up, we will work across public services to support them in whatever way they need. It’s why we are working so closely with our partners in health, skills, employment support and in the benefits system: life can be complicated, but support shouldn’t have to be. 

“This is about real people, not just statistics. It’s about a mum who wants to return to work but needs childcare, a young person looking for their first chance, or someone recovering from illness who wants to feel confident again. These people deserve public services that are in their corner and this plan shows what that will look like in practice.” 

The Get East Midlands Working Partnership developed the strategy, bringing together the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), the Department for Work and Pensions, NHS Integrated Care Boards in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, local councils, employers, colleges and community organisations. 

The plan builds on EMCCA’s existing Inclusive Growth Plan and aims to ensure that economic progress reaches all communities. It links skills, employment and health support to reduce inequalities and strengthen local prosperity. 

Over the next decade, the strategy aims to raise the regional employment rate to 80 per cent, support 100,000 local jobs, remove barriers such as poor health and transport challenges, and help people move into secure and better-paid work. 

Mayor Ward said:

“The East Midlands is a region of potential: potential which will only be unlocked if everyone plays their part. This is the bedrock of inclusive growth: that everyone’s contribution to our society and economy is valued and respected. 

“The Government has set us a challenging target to achieve, but it is one we are embracing – because most people are better off in work and we will be a region where more people live that reality.”

The plan will be regularly reviewed to ensure it adapts to changes in the local economy and continues to reflect the needs and ambitions of residents.