In her latest column, Councillor Nadine Peatfield reflects on her recent trips to China and France.
The last few weeks have given me so many reasons to be proud of our region but my recent trips to the MIPIM Real Estate Summit and China have really brought this home for me.
I’ve been reminded of just how much Derby has to offer not only to the rest of the UK but internationally. We’re seeing record rates of investment into our city by key players who also recognise the potential of our relatively small but very mighty city.
MIPIM, the world’s leading real estate event, gave Team Derby the opportunity to spend time with potential investors, not only telling them all about Derby’s incredible regeneration story, but taking time to listen to what they have to say. The event was the perfect opportunity to launch Derby’s ‘City Centre First for Offices’ prospectus, showcasing office opportunities and supporting a drive to get more people into our city centre and supporting the local economy. A big thanks once again to Marketing Derby for coordinating Derby’s part in the event.
We’re passionate about collaboration and partnership so it’s important to learn what our potential investors think. The message was loud and clear from investors and developers alike: stability and confidence is key. This has been crucial in attracting the big investors and names we see here now and those in the pipeline. Finally, we are a city on the up!
Whilst in China, I had the opportunity to spend time with trade leaders discussing potential investments into our region and strengthening partnerships that will unlock new opportunities for our economic growth. The week-long visit had a packed agenda, and we six Mayors and Deputy Mayors worked really hard to promote our regions and the UK as a prime place to invest.
The trip was a significant step forwards in the UK's efforts to secure its position as a global leader in trade, technology, and innovation - setting the stage for a new era of international collaboration. I’m confident that by forging deeper ties with China, we can revitalise the UK’s economic foundations by boosting trade, creating new jobs and securing investment opportunities that will ensure long-term prosperity.
It was a fantastic opportunity and I’m very excited to see the impact that these two trips will have on our city over the coming months and years.
Of course, I can’t talk about the last few weeks without mentioning our wonderful new city centre venue! It was thrilling to attend the Vaillant Live opening event at the start of this month and see the venue alive with people having a fantastic time. Thinking back to what the site looked like the first time I visited in June 2023, the transformation that has taken place is staggering and I’m so proud of all we’ve achieved. The excitement really was palpable on opening day and the feedback that we’ve received has been overwhelmingly positive.
This is yet another example of international players, such as ASM Global and Vaillant, choosing to invest into Derby. With their headquarters in Belper and manufacturing site at Indurent Park Derby, Vaillant have already invested heavily in Derbyshire, and I’m pleased to see this continue into the Becketwell development. I was able to go along to the opening of Vaillant’s heat pump manufacturing site, which is just outside of the city centre, at the end of March and see first-hand the impact of their investment.
Looking ahead, I’m incredibly excited for the Market Hall re-opening next month and cannot wait for everyone to see all the hard work that has been poured into revitalising one of our beloved buildings. We made our intention to transform our city centre into a vibrant heart very clear when we came into power almost two years ago and it’s fantastic to see this start to come to life.
Confidence in Derby as a vibrant, pioneering city and a centre for manufacturing excellence is sky-high right now. Backed by support from partners locally and across the globe, we’re creating a vibrant city centre with culture at its heart and I’m very proud to be a part of the journey.