Team Derby event hails inward investment success
“Impressed” was how visitors reacted to Team Derby’s breakfast at MIPIM on Wednesday morning (March 15).
Held at the Eden Hotel, in Cannes, the event played host to a targeted investor audience of around 50 people.
John Forkin, managing director of Marketing Derby, said: “Our MIPIM breakfast event was the first for three years and we were able to catch up with regional and national stakeholders, as well as introduce new investors to the opportunities we have in the city and county.”
Councillor Chris Poulter, leader of Derby City Council, said: “People are really impressed with Derby’s economic story, both with our recognised strengths in advanced manufacturing and in our diversification, attracting recent inward investments such as SmartParc, Vaillant and Getinge.
“At the same time, in the conversations I held, they appreciated we are on a journey in repurposing the city centre – with some successes already in the bag and ready now to take the next step.”
At the event, Paul Simpson, chief executive of Derby City Council, outlined the major names who had already committed to investing in the city’s future.
He hailed the success of SmartParc SEGRO Derby, a new food manufacturing hub being created on the former British Celanese site, which has already attracted big names such as Hello Fresh.
He also cited two recent investments by major international manufacturers at St. Modwen Park Derby, a new business park being developed by St. Modwen Logistics.
German-owned heating technology firm Vaillant and Swedish medical technology manufacturer Getinge, have both committed to taking space at the development.
Simpson also mentioned the rapid progress being made at Becketwell, with completion nearing on Grainger Plc’s Condor build-to-rent apartments scheme – and the forthcoming performance venue, which will be operated by ASM Global.
He then went on to discuss three key city centre schemes, which were ripe for investment – the new Assemble learning theatre on the site of the Assembly Rooms, the University of Derby’s new Business School and wider plans for city centre campus and Derbion’s masterplan to create hundreds of new homes and commercial space.
The event also included a presentation by David Williams, deputy chairman of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership about proposals for a devolution deal for the East Midlands, covering Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
The Government has offered new powers to Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby, and Nottingham, along with at least £1.14 billion of funding, through the proposed creation of an East Midlands Combined County Authority.
Local leaders are backing devolution to promote economic growth, secure more investment in our area, for more and better jobs, and for better transport, skills training, housing, and an enhanced greener environment. It would also mean more power in local hands.
A formal proposal was developed, outlining how devolution would work in the area, which was the focus of a recent public consultation.
The results of that consultation were recently published, which showed general support for the plans.
