Midlands Mayors sign agreement to boost regions

Mayors of the West Midlands and East Midlands have signed a historic agreement to work together.

The deal was officially launched at the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry, marking the start of the West and East Midlands Compact.

The Compact focuses on five key areas for joint action: building stronger industries and supply chains, attracting investment, improving transport and infrastructure, boosting research capabilities, and providing strong regional leadership.

This agreement strengthens the collaboration between the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA).

Together, the two regions make up a £132.6bn economy, home to 147,355 businesses and 5.2m people.

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands said: “The Midlands was the home of the industrial revolution – an innovative spark that led to seismic change across the globe. The influence of this region is often overlooked but cannot be overstated – we are driving the national economy.

“For the first time, both East and West are represented by Mayors. It is a unique opportunity to work together to make a greater impact across the whole region. Bringing the region together will help us fully realise our potential. We will create jobs, drive growth, improve transport links and help the whole region thrive.”

Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands said: “This Compact represents the desire that Mayor Richard Parker and I have to harness our regions’ shared strengths and to face our shared challenges. The Government is committed to its growth mission – and it is pan-regional partnerships like ours that will deliver it.

“We will coordinate to attract investment, strengthen supply chains, and to deliver the infrastructure that makes inclusive growth possible. So, this is about strong Mayoral leadership at the regional level – but it is also about the innovation that is possible when we pool risk and opportunity. This is as true for economic productivity as it is for public service reform, and our regions are keen to use this partnership for those things which will most strongly benefit our people and places. This sets the direction for pan-regional working in the Midlands: drawing on both our similarities and our unique strengths to build the future.”