The huge potential of devolution for the East Midlands region will be showcased at a major UK trade event in Leeds on May 16th-18th.
D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership is to lead a panel session at the UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum 2023 to discuss upcoming devolution in the East Midlands for businesses and investors.
The D2N2 region, covering Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, has an industrial and manufacturing track record and is at the forefront of economic development, with the East Midlands Freeport and the East Midlands Development Company recently established.
The region is on track to become the home of the UK’s newest and largest combined authority in 2024. The D2N2 area sits in the heart of the country and is very well connected, and benefits from proximity to infrastructure assets such as East Midlands Airport, the M1 and fast rail links, and its central location means that almost 90% of the UK is accessible within a four hour drive.
The panel session will provide the opportunity for delegates to hear from speakers representing D2N2 LEP, the East Midlands Development Company and key businesses in the region, who will share their insights on the benefits and opportunities devolution will bring to the East Midlands.
Delegates will have the opportunity to get involved in the discussion about what the private sector can bring to complement and enhance the newest and largest devolution deal in England, set to leverage at least £38m per year over 30 years.
The panel session will be chaired by Nicolle Ndiweni, Inward Investment and Business Expansion Specialist, Invest in Nottingham, and the panel will include:
• Will Morlidge – Chief Executive, D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership
• Andrew Roberts – Regional Head of Acquisitions, Yorkshire & Central, Harworth Group
• Andy Dabbs – Board Director, Whittam Cox Architects
• Sir Chris Haworth – Chairman, East Midlands Development Company
• Ellie Hinds – Business Development Manager, Scape Group
• Steve Wooler – Chief Executive, BWB
Will Morlidge, Chief Executive of D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership said: “The East Midlands devolution deal is not just about driving more funding from the Government into our region: it is also a very clear signal from Government that the East Midlands is the vibrant industrial heart of the UK and is a great place to invest. Together with the rest of the panel, I am really looking forward to discussing the unique opportunities that devolution will unlock for businesses and investors in the region and beyond.”
John Forkin, MD of Marketing Derby, added: “As well as championing Derby and Derbyshire, we also regularly collaborate with our partners on projects that benefit the wider region, such as the East Midlands devolution deal, which we are fully behind. Over the years, we have achieved some notable successes, attracting major companies, both national and international, bringing thousands of new jobs to this part of the world and we are excited about the huge potential to do so going forward.”
