Insider Media Limited

Fledgling organisation Communicate East Midlands is considering launching a bid to take control of the region's tourism agenda, Insider has learnt. The group, which was founded earlier this year in preparation for the East Midlands Development Agency's (Emda) demise, said it is also considering launching a 'capital of culture' bid for the region.

The group, founded by Nottingham businessman Tony Bates, recently held its second meeting. The group has more than 400 members; a number which Bates said is consistently growing.

Communicate East Midlands said its aim is to "put the East Midlands on the world map, realise its potential and make it globally acclaimed by 2020".

Bates said that the group's second meeting has been fruitful in its outcomes.

He said: "I think the group will become a portal for the East Midlands – once Emda goes, we'll have no singular body to represent the region – that's what we want to become. There is nothing to promote inward investment and tourism in the East Midlands as a whole, so I think it's very likely that as our status grows, we can become responsible for that.

"We've looked at the possibility of getting funding, and I think it's much more likely that we'd get funding if we did represent the tourism sector, even though we're really swimming against an anti -regional tide."

Bates, managing director of Nottingham-based Fast Graphics, said the body would be concentrating on growing its reputation and member numbers over the next few months.

"We are firstly on the hunt for East Midlands ambassadors – people who are affiliated with the region, who care about its future. We've a huge list of people we'd like to be involved, like [designers] Paul Smith and Wayne Hemmingway, who are passionate about the region.

"After they're in place, we'd like to hold a conference, so that we can publicly show people what it is we're out to achieve. It's very early days yet, but I'm delighted with the progress so far."

He added that the group was considering re-launching a 'capital of culture' bid for the region after a previous campaign to give the title to Nottingham failed.

"We've been told we can generate a bid for the region as long as we've got a city spearheading it – I think this would be a great way to really show what the region is made of," he said.

Communicate East Midlands will hold its third meeting in September.