Nottingham

Groundwork Five Counties staff Marion Farrell in middle in black with Friends of Red River Loscoe

Green charity improves green spaces equal to 58 football fields

Regional charity Groundwork Five Counties has announced it has improved 415,964 m² of land in 2025/26, equal to 58 football fields. The organisation manages dozens of green spaces around the East Midlands, supported by community volunteers. Rish Mills, Environment Delivery Manager at Groundwork Five Counties, said: “We manage parks, walking trails, nature reserves, woods, and other public spaces. We create open, easily accessible areas that offer increased biodiversity for the wildlife to thrive in and for visitors to enjoy. “We […]

1 July 2026 18

Derby

£107m investment plan to deliver growth across the East Midlands

A £107 million investment plan to support business growth, strengthen communities and create thriving places is moving at pace after being backed by the Mayor of the East Midlands. The Local Growth Fund programme was approved by members of the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) Investment Committee today (Monday 29th June), with 17 programmes now endorsed to progress towards delivery. The plan will bring together programmes aimed at driving long-term economic development across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. The […]

29 June 2026 18

Scott Knowles (Credit: East Midlands Chamber)

Derby

New steel import tariffs must be addressed by ministers, Chamber tells MPs

East Midlands Chamber has called on the region’s MPs to lobby ministers to take action against imminent changes to steel import tariffs, that the Chamber says could add significant cost and ‘run into millions’ for some importers. From 1st July, tariff-free exemptions on imported steel are set to be reduced by 51% - revised from a level of 60% previously proposed in March - with any imported goods that exceed the quota charged a 50% tariff on the value. The […]

25 June 2026 9

Borough Wide

New £31m investment to bring empty homes back into use and unlock housing growth

More than £31 million is set to be invested by the Mayor of the East Midlands to create more homes, bring empty properties back into use and support the regeneration of communities across the region. The proposals include £30m for a new Housing and Regeneration Fund and £1.6m to bring empty homes back into use and help tackle homelessness. Together, the two funds would help tackle housing shortages, improve neighbourhoods and support people who need a safe and secure place […]

25 June 2026 19

Derby

EU ‘reset’ talks should bring greater clarity over export requirements says Chamber

Marking the 10-year anniversary of the 2016 UK-EU referendum, East Midlands Chamber has renewed its call for anticipated UK Government ‘reset’ talks with the bloc to prioritise improving trade terms to ease the burden on exporters. East Midlands Chamber Head of International Trade Lucy Granger said: “Exporters need to be able to trade with EU countries easily, free of any barriers that hinder trade or create a headache, like unnecessary costs or complex requirements to adhere to. While the expected […]

23 June 2026 11

Derbyshire

CrossCountry celebrates International Women in Engineering Day with Derbyshire engineer leading major fleet improvement programmes

A Derbyshire engineer who “just enjoyed making things” explains how she came to oversee the refurbishment of an entire train fleet, as CrossCountry marks International Women in Engineering Day (IWED) which was held on Tuesday 23rd June. This year, long-distance train operator CrossCountry is showcasing the story of Head of Industry Projects, Kerry Childs, whose journey from a Matlock classroom to leading major fleet improvement programmes stemmed from a lifelong curiosity about how things work, and how things can be […]

23 June 2026 8

Cricket

Derby to get state-of-the-art cricket dome thanks to funding boost

Derby is to receive government funding to improve cricket facilities across the city and make the sport more accessible than ever before. The city has been chosen as one of five locations to benefit from a further £3 million injection to open up access to year-round cricket in even more communities. This figure will be matched by the England and Wales Cricket Board. The investment will see a cricket dome built in Derby, in collaboration between Derbyshire County Cricket Club and the Derbyshire […]

19 June 2026 17

Richard Blackmore from The East Midlands Chamber

Derby

No interest rate cut from 3.75% means no relief yet for businesses looking to borrow

The Bank of England’s announcement to hold the interest rate at 3.75% could add to the frustration of firms looking to invest to grow by borrowing, the East Midlands Chamber has said. East Midlands Chamber Director of Policy and Insight Richard Blackmore said: “With inflation having remained static at 2.8% in the latest data published this week, it was generally expected the Bank of England would not announce any cut in the interest rate just yet. For businesses looking to […]

18 June 2026 6

Derby

Unchanged 5.5% East Midlands unemployment means skills reform must step up

After the latest estimated data showed unemployment in the region has remained at 5.5%, East Midlands Chamber has renewed its call for skills investment, to better match candidates with roles. The latest estimated figure from the Office for National Statistics for over 16s in the East Midlands covers the period between February and April 2026. East Midlands Chamber Director of Policy and Insight Richard Blackmore said: “Less than half of East Midlands businesses have attempted to recruit and of those […]

18 June 2026 9

Green charity improves green spaces equal to 58 football fields

£107m investment plan to deliver growth across the East Midlands

New steel import tariffs must be addressed by ministers, Chamber tells MPs

New £31m investment to bring empty homes back into use and unlock housing growth

EU ‘reset’ talks should bring greater clarity over export requirements says Chamber

CrossCountry celebrates International Women in Engineering Day with Derbyshire engineer leading major fleet improvement programmes

Derby to get state-of-the-art cricket dome thanks to funding boost

No interest rate cut from 3.75% means no relief yet for businesses looking to borrow

Unchanged 5.5% East Midlands unemployment means skills reform must step up

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