A \u00a36m investment has brought the Derbyshire Rail Industry Innovation Vehicle (DRIIVe) to life, creating a new hub focused on rail training, research and commercial development.<\/p>\n
Located at Barrow Hill, the centre features modern classrooms, training areas, specialist research and development facilities, a digital laboratory and commercial workshop space for businesses operating across the rail sector.<\/p>\n
Developed by Chesterfield Borough Council in partnership with Barrow Hill Engine Shed Society, DRIIVe was officially opened by Ivan Fomin, Independent Business Chair of the Staveley Town Deal Board.<\/p>\n
The majority of funding for the project has come through the Government-backed Staveley Town Deal, with additional support from the East Midlands Combined County Authority and Chesterfield Borough Council.<\/p>\n
Managed by Barrow Hill Ltd, DRIIVe will provide training from Level Two qualifications through to postgraduate research, while giving rail businesses access to facilities to develop new technologies and support growth.<\/p>\n
Ivan Fomin said: \u201cIt is fantastic to be able to open this new innovation centre \u2013 it represents everything we are trying to achieve through the Town Deal. We want Staveley to be a town where people can start, stay and grow. Providing training facilities but also space for business will help ensure that local people can develop the skills they need to build fantastic careers in the rail sector.\u201d<\/p>\n
The facility is expected to support businesses across the rail supply chain while helping address future skills needs within the industry.<\/p>\n
Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and Vice-Chair of the Staveley Town Deal Board said: \u201cDRIIVe represents our ambition to be a leading destination for the rail industry \u2013 it will not only provide training and a base for businesses but also has the facilities needed to carry out cutting-edge research and development. We expect that having a facility like this will help attract businesses to the nearby East Midlands Industrial Zone site.<\/p>\n
\u201cDRIIVe will ensure that local people have access to training which will enable them to gain the right skills to access good quality jobs created by new businesses being attracted to the area.<\/p>\n
\u201cPartnership sits at the heart of DRIIVe, and we want to continue working with businesses to ensure DRIIVe supports the sector, but we also want to use this facility to inspire the next generation of rail engineers. We are already developing a detailed outreach programme for local schools to achieve this. DRIIVe is an ambitious project, and I am confident it will be truly transformational for our borough.\u201d<\/p>\n
The opening forms part of wider regeneration plans for the area, with DRIIVe expected to help attract further investment and support nearby developments including the East Midlands Investment Zone.<\/p>\n
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: \u201cThe Derbyshire Rail Industry Innovation Vehicle is a fantastic example of how targeted investment into our region\u2019s strengths can create lasting benefits. By putting funding into this project, we\u2019ve helped bring this important project to life, accelerating the delivery of specialist skills and supporting the future of the rail industry.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe opening of DRIIVe is a significant milestone in the wider regeneration of the area, which will also unlock future opportunities at nearby sites such as Hartington Staveley as part of our East Midlands Investment Zone ambitions. As we work to attract investment from clean energy industries and advanced manufacturing, facilities like this give us a strong platform to grow our high-value sectors, including rail, where the East Midlands has heritage, a strong track record, and a real competitive advantage.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Specialist facility creates a base for rail companies, researchers and learners as the region looks to strengthen its role in the sector<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":266702,"featured_media":2113361,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,47996],"coauthors":[127717],"class_list":["post-2113360","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-property","category-transport","tag-derbyshire","tag-featured-story"],"yoast_head":"\n