£1.75m plan launched to bring businesses back to Derby city centre

A £1.75m plan to encourage more businesses to locate in Derby city centre has been launched by the city council.

The authority says it wants to work with businesses that will bring high-quality jobs into the city centre, as well as owners of vacant buildings, to repurpose redundant space for new economic uses, including offices and apartments.

Through the new scheme, the council recently supported IT company Bam Boom Cloud to move its global headquarters to Derby, bringing almost 100 high-value jobs to the city centre. Now, the authority is making funding available to attract others to follow suit.

David Fletcher, director of city development and growth at Derby City Council said that the Bam Boom Cloud relocation met both of the initiative’s key aims.

“Bam Boom Cloud will bring high-value, knowledge-based employment into the city centre and breathe new life into a beautiful, listed building which has been empty for years; it’s the perfect example of what we’re aiming to achieve through this inward investment initiative.

“The move will help diversify our local economy, enhance the street scene and improve vibrancy. We now hope to attract further jobs into the city centre and achieve new uses for more of our vacant properties,” he said.

The Council is looking to support businesses that will bring at least ten jobs to the city centre, and says it is able to offer assistance with rent, business rates, training, marketing, parking or office fit-out costs.

For repurposing of buildings, the initiative can fund up to 100% of feasibility studies and up to 50% of capital costs for repurposing, renovation, and conversion.

The authority says it has just agreed to support Manston Investments with a feasibility study to explore future uses for its empty former Bennett’s building on Iron Gate.

Applications will be considered from businesses proposing to generate employment anywhere within the city boundaries, but weighting will be given to those targeting the city centre and those whose plans will help diversify the high street. The authority aims to allocate its funding by March 2022.

John Forkin, managing director of inward investment agency Marketing Derby, said: “We are seeking to repurpose the city centre by encouraging the return of business and investment. People want to see a dynamic and vibrant city and this fund provides us with a unique opportunity to support new jobs and investment in making that happen. Early interest has been incredibly positive.”

Financing for the project has been provided from the Government’s Additional Restrictions Grant and will complement the £5m Ascend business support programme, already announced by the Council. The Ascend programme supports existing local companies to scale up and take on more staff by assisting with the development and implementation of growth plans and securing investments.