New 'Get East Midlands Working' plan to create jobs, improve pay and boost opportunity

A 10-year plan has been launched to help thousands more people across the East Midlands find good jobs, earn more money and live healthier, happier lives.   

The recent launch of the landmark Get East Midlands Working Plan saw Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, hear directly from participants who have successfully completed a work-training programme with East Midlands Railway, to celebrate its positive impact on local people.

The ambitious Get East Midlands Working Plan (2025–35) sets out a clear vision to help more residents across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire access good jobs, develop their skills, and enjoy better health and wellbeing, focusing on three priorities: 

• Priority 1: Effective training and employment support: We will connect residents to sustainable jobs through easy-to-access, targeted health and employment support and jobs-focused skills development so that everyone can get into work and progress. 
• Priority 2: A joined-up system: We will work better together as partners to ensure clear leadership, coordinated action and accountable delivery across the employment, health and skills system 
• Priority 3: Overcoming wider barriers:  We will tackle structural barriers that stop people getting into work, including transport, housing and health access. 

Mayor Claire 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 plan has been developed by the Get East Midlands Working Partnership, which brings together the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICB) for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, local councils, the NHS, employers, colleges, and community organisations.It is focused on working together to ensure everyone benefits from a stronger, fairer local economy.   

The plan builds directly on EMCCA’s Inclusive Growth plan, which aims to make sure economic growth reaches every community. Both plans share a common goal: creating an East Midlands where opportunity is open to all, where businesses can thrive and where everyone has the chance to contribute and succeed.  

By connecting skills, employment and health, the Get East Midlands Working Plan helps turn the vision of inclusive growth into real, local action, improving lives, reducing inequalities and supporting sustainable prosperity across the region. 

Over the next decade, the plan aims to: 

• Raise the regional employment rate to 80 per cent by 2035, meaning about 60,000 more people in work; 
• Create and support 100,000 local jobs over the next decade; 
• Tackle barriers to work, including poor health, low skills, caring responsibilities, and transport challenges; 
• Boost productivity and pay, helping people move into secure, better-quality jobs; 
• Promote fairness and inclusion, so that growth reaches every community. 

Mayor Claire 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 is a “live” document that will grow and adapt as the economy and local priorities evolve. Regular reviews will ensure the plan stays relevant, flexible, and focused on making a lasting difference. 

Together, these organisations have shaped the plan through workshops, community engagement, and data analysis to ensure it reflects the real experiences and ambitions of people across the East Midlands.