Team Derby is set for its busiest MIPIM since the Covid pandemic following an announcement of a massive £9bn investment into the city’s defence and nuclear sector.
Taking place in Cannes, France, from 11 to 14 March, MIPIM is the biggest property investment show in the world and a combination of public and private sector partners will join Marketing Derby’s Queen’s Award-winning inward investment team to promote the city to investors from across the globe.
This year Derby will feature in the UK Hub where it will be launching the City Centre First for Offices Prospectus – showcasing investment opportunities within Derby city centre – and the city is also one of the few to be promoted in the Estates Gazette UK Cities Playbook.
Cllr Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council and Deputy Mayor of the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), who will be leading the delegation, says: “MIPIM provides cities like Derby with a unique opportunity to pitch to a wide range of investors and advisors.
“Team Derby has effective methods to meet with the right people and get our message across. Our focus will be the radical transformation of the city centre and the growth of the Infinity Park Derby Investment Zone.”
A key Team Derby breakfast will include presentations from Derby City Council, Marketing Derby, the University of Derby, Ion Developments and Cavendish & London.
This year, Derby’s overarching message at MIPIM will be grounded in the city’s economic strengths.
Earlier this year, it was announced that Rolls-Royce Submarines had landed a £9 billion – Unity – contract with the Ministry of Defence to provide nuclear power plants for a new fleet of submarines, creating thousands of jobs, while investing in the next generation of nuclear engineers.
John Forkin, MD of inward investment agency Marketing Derby, said: “We are still getting our heads around the scale of the Unity deal and this, together with being chosen as the HQ for Great British Railways, has already led to a significant boost in interest and confidence in Derby.”
Team Derby will be briefing investors on how they can tap into Derby’s rising reputation as a centre for nuclear technology – with incentives to be had at locations such as Infinity Park Derby, which has Investment Zone status.
As well as showcasing its potential as an office location, Team Derby will be at MIPIM plugging several other pipeline projects and opportunities within the city centre, including the Cultural Heart of City, which includes proposals for the former Assembly Rooms site.
Investors will also be briefed on the University of Derby’s wider plans for a City Campus, to follow on from its impressive £75 million Cavendish Business School Building opening this year.
The Team Derby public/private sector partnership approach is one that has reaped dividends in recent years in terms of attracting overseas investment.
The prestigious Financial Times’ fDi European Cities and Regions of the Future 2025 has placed Derby as sixth within the Top 10 Small European Cities for foreign direct investment and members of Team Derby will accept the award at a special ceremony.
