The East Midlands is often overshadowed in discussions of UK commercial hubs by London, Manchester, and Birmingham — but this is a region of substantial commercial activity and genuine growth ambition. Nottingham, Leicester, and Derby collectively represent one of the UK's most significant provincial commercial economies, with industrial heritage that reaches back to the industrial revolution and a contemporary commercial base that spans logistics, advanced manufacturing, professional services, and a growing digital and creative sector.

Derby's identity is closely tied to Rolls-Royce, which has its global headquarters here and employs thousands in the manufacture of aero-engines — a high-value advanced manufacturing industry that supports an extensive supply chain of precision engineering, materials, and technical services businesses. Toyota's UK manufacturing plant at Burnaston makes Derby a significant automotive hub. The East Midlands Airport in Castle Donington, combined with excellent motorway connections (M1, A1(M), M42), makes the region a natural logistics centre — Amazon, DHL, and major retailers have large distribution operations here.

Nottingham has developed a growing digital and creative economy, with significant investment in the Nottingham Science Park and a vibrant city centre that hosts a range of technology, professional services, and consumer businesses. Leicester has strengths in textiles and fashion (a historic industry that has reinvented itself for the fast fashion and e-commerce era), food manufacturing, and a diverse professional services sector serving its significant multicultural community.

Involve Digital works with East Midlands businesses to build growth systems appropriate to the region's industrial and commercial character — from advanced manufacturing businesses building digital marketing capability to technology scale-ups developing national sales infrastructure to professional services firms improving their B2B pipeline.