Derbyshire County Council have launched a new service to raise the profile of the county among the business community and encourage more companies to invest in the area.
It will:
- raise the profile of Derbyshire globally to secure investment and create new jobs, acting as a shop window for why Derbyshire should be a destination of choice for investors
- make it easy for investors to choose Derbyshire by providing a one-stop shop offering quality business support tailored to individual businesses’ needs ranging from help and support to choose the right site in Derbyshire to provide information on workforce skills and assisting with recruitment as well as offering guidance on financial incentives
- use market intelligence to target businesses in growth sectors to attract them to Derbyshire
The service was launched on behalf of the Derbyshire Economic Partnership (DEP) at an event today on Friday 24 May 2019, attended by around 150 guests including investors, commercial property agents and local businesses.
Guest speakers at the event held at Holiday Inn, South Normanton, included Leader of Derbyshire County Council Councillor Barry Lewis – speaking about the commitment to unlocking growth and promoting investment – and Managing Director of Toyota Europe Tony Walker, talking about why Toyota invested in Derbyshire and continues to grow its business in the county.
Also in the spotlight was Sally Ambrose from Chatsworth, talking about the estate’s impact on the local economy and how, as a key Derbyshire landowner, it will drive future opportunities to promote development in Derbyshire. And delegates also heard from Peter Storey, Head of Markham Vale, explaining what lies ahead for the council’s premier enterprise zone and why it has been so successful at attracting inward investment to date.
Councillor Lewis said: “Driving economic growth and creating more job opportunities for local people is a vital part of our ambitious plans for the future.”
“Derbyshire has so much to offer investors at both a national and global level. Its unique position at the heart of the UK together with excellent transport links and quality of life make our county an attractive place for businesses to locate invest, live, work and stay.”
Chairman of the Derbyshire Enterprise Partnership Richard Horsley added: “With its rich heritage of innovation and a broad range of development opportunities, Derbyshire has one of the strongest economic performances in the country and I am proud to launch the new service today.”
“With a diverse economy ranging from advanced manufacturing through to creative and digital industries, minerals and aggregates and tourism there are many opportunities for businesses and investors alike to thrive.”
The Invest in Derbyshire service is being delivered on behalf of both DEP and Derbyshire County Council, by award-winning investment promotion agency Marketing Derby – a public-private partnership created to raise the profile of Derby and Derbyshire and attract investment.