Robin Johnson – PR and press executive at Marketing Derby and former business editor at the Derby Telegraph – reflects on the continuing regeneration of his home city. Here we reprint his latest column for Marketing Derby.
“During my time as a journalist, I attended many ground-breaking ceremonies. When I say ground-breaking, I don’t mean they were particularly innovative.
Standing in the middle of a muddy expanse, dressed in a hi-vis and an ill-fitting hard hat, while clutching a spade, is hardly what you’d call pushing the envelope.
But, over the years, I have been fortunate to witness the first spades of earth being dug for a number of key schemes across Derby – and Derbyshire for that matter.
Of course, ground-breaking ceremonies are symbolic. When the cameras are gone, the mayor doesn’t roll up their sleeves, spit on their hands and continue digging.
But they are important moments, nonetheless, in the story of any new development.
During the month of June, ground-breaking ceremonies took place to mark the beginning of work on two major city centre schemes.
First of all, a ceremony was held to herald the beginning of work on the £45.8 million performance venue at Becketwell.
With the dry weather in June, I imagine the ground was rock hard. And with all the thunderstorms we had, the last thing I’d want to be holding in my hand is a metal spade!
Anyway, it’s great to see work beginning on these important schemes.
A company that will hopefully be having a ground-breaking ceremony of its own sometime in the near future is Rolls-Royce.
In June, the company announced its intention to double the size of its Raynesway site, adding a further 100,000 square metres of floor space.
Rolls-Royce Submarines has said it needs to expand the site, which makes power plants for nuclear submarines, in order to meet the growth in demand from the Royal Navy – and as a result of the recent AUKUS announcement.
The Raynesway site currently employs more than 4,000 people. The expansion would create an additional 1,170 skilled roles.
This announcement is a major boost for Derby – and further justification, if any was needed, for the existence of the Nuclear Skills Academy over at Infinity Park, which is churning out the nuclear engineers of the future.
The academy is a collaboration between Rolls-Royce and the university.
And in June, I reported on another example of this fruitful partnership, which has seen the engineering giant establish a new tech hub at the university’s Markeaton Street site.
While supporting our advanced manufacturing big-hitters, Derby is always keen to diversify its economy. This includes embracing the movie industry!
In June, I reported that a deal had been done to buy the former Aida Bliss factory and turn it into a state-of-the-art facility, home to film studios, a stunt academy, gym and sports rehabilitation centre.
The project involves repurposing the building, so they won’t need anyone who’s good at digging to perform the ground-breaking ceremony. I guess that rules out our favourite movie archaeologist Indiana Jones.
Although there could be a ribbon-cutting ceremony where Edward Scissorhands might come in ‘handy’.
We’re now getting into a very busy period for the team here at Marketing Derby.
In June, we launched the Marketing Derby Food and Drink Awards 2023, our annual celebration of the very best places to eat and drink in the local area.
Nominations are now open, so there’s no time to waste!
We’ve already received a huge number of nominations – and you can tell us about your favourite here.
And, as I write this, preparations are currently in full swing for the forthcoming Derby Property Summit, which is due to take place at Reach Events, on Wednesday 12 July.
We have a top line-up of keynote speakers and panellists assembled for what should prove to be an insightful and stimulating event, looking at how we shape our cities for the future.
Back in the present, if you heard something weighty flop onto your doormat in June, it was probably the latest edition of Marketing Derby’s Innovate Magazine.
The theme for the summer edition is Derby’s ‘residential revolution’ – and takes a closer look at the numerous city centre residential developments happening in the city.
This revolution shows no signs of flagging – you only had to look at June’s headlines to realise that.
Grainger Plc announced it would be officially launching its 259 build-to-rent apartments scheme, The Condor, this month.
Derbion got the green light to build hundreds of homes in Bradshaw Way, which is part of a wider master plan involving more residential.
Compendium Living received the go-ahead to build the fourth phase of the £100 million Castleward scheme.
And a consultation took place to get views on proposals for a residential-led repurposing of Friar Gate Goods Yard.
Phew! It really is hard to believe that all this happened within the space of a month – but such is the pace of things in Derby at the moment.
I reckon B&Q should make sure they have plenty of spades in stock!
Anyway, have a safe and productive July and I look forward to catching up again soon.”
