How Derby Is Becoming A New Business Hub

April 1, 2020May 21, 2020 Kiera Ellis Economic Partnership, New Business Hub

If you are looking to invest, relocate or expand your business, Derby is becoming an increasingly popular choice of location due to a wide variety of reasons. Some of these include a diverse range of development opportunities, a fantastic central location, excellent transport links and a rich heritage of innovation. In this article, RTC Business Park takes us through just a few of the reasons that they think Derby is currently thriving.

Economic partnership

Derby has the sites and infrastructure to support significant inward investment. Its central location with easy access to motorways, rail, and airports makes it one of the most attractive investment propositions in the UK. It has 9 million people residing within 20 miles of its boundary and 80% of the population is within 4 hours drive, making it a great opportunity for businesses to access skills, people, and markets.

Living and working

Derby is an amazing place to both live and work. It is also home to one of the highest skilled workforces in the UK, with 38% of its workforce employed in professional functions. The area has transformed itself into a thriving modern economy surrounded by breath-taking scenery including the Peak District National Park. Derby is a great location for those who are looking for both easy access to city life and areas of rural space to retreat to when needed.

Tourism

Derby has over 40 million tourist visitors per year with the Peak District National Park and The National Forest attracting millions of tourists each year. The Iconic Chatsworth House is also an attraction in its own right. Peak resort is flagship leisure, health, sport, and education resort being developed in 300 acres of forest land in the Chesterfield and M1 area.

International Businesses and brands

Derby has major strengths in rail, aerospace, automotive and advanced engineering, construction, food and drink, research and development, and tourism. It is the location choice for international businesses including global giants such as Thornton’s, Nestle and Toyota, as well as luxury motoring giant Rolls Royce. Due to the location of international brands and their supply chains, the area is becoming extremely strong in traditional and innovative manufacturing, research and development and engineering. Derby’s strength lies in its ability to meet the needs of modern technologies. Companies are setting up production facilities and administrative headquarters due to Derby’s academic and skill strengths, which only continues to help the city grow from strength to strength.

International Businesses and brands

Transport links and connections

Derby is the UK’s most central city, with a travel to work population of 2.1 million and access to 6 million people within one hour of travelling. Derby is only a 93-minute train journey to London St Pancras and also has great links to the north at Manchester and Liverpool. Superfast broadband is also widely accessible, with an availability level of 93.8%, which makes Derby one of the best cities for broadband service in the country, surpassing the likes of London in that respect. Furthermore, Derby is within one hour from five key international and freight airports, whilst the East Midlands Gateway will bring the largest inland freight terminal to the area, opening further infrastructure links for the county.

Minerals and Aggregates

There is a long history of quarrying and extraction activities due to the presence of limestone in the Peak District. There are 21 active quarry sites across the Peak and Dales contributing to £2.1bn per year towards the national economy.

Investment and developments

In Derby, £1.25bn of a £2bn regeneration masterplan has been secured. £300m has been invested in new leisure, office, housing, and infrastructure schemes; these include a new sports arena, swimming pool, and a hi-tech business park Infinity Park Derby. Economic development plans in and around the city center include the creation of jobs and SME growth.