Creating a business school for businesses

A building that is rapidly rising out of the ground is the University of Derby’s new Derby Business School – and at this year’s ABE, Professor Kathryn Mitchell, the university’s vice-chancellor and chief executive, gave an update on progress.

Designed to be a facility for cutting-edge research, learning and teaching, and support for businesses in the region and across the globe, once built, the business school is projected to be the study base for more than 6,000 students by 2030, supporting the local economy and adding to the vibrancy of the city centre.

Located adjacent to the university’s Friar Gate Square, it will include facilities such as an auditorium, a stock market financial trading room, a creativity lab, an extended reality suite and a range of social collaborative study spaces and quiet contemplative areas.

The development kickstarts the university’s City Masterplan, which aims to develop its footprint in the city and improve connectivity across sites.

Professor Mitchell told the ABE: “The business school is an amazing building.

“The really important bit is that it’s coming to our city centre – and that it’s not just about the students it’s about the city.

“The building will have great spaces for creativity and innovation – and we are looking for businesses to rent those spaces and come and work with our students and be part of the business school.

“We are an applied university – and we’ve changed our strategy to be industry engaged. Every programme in the university will be linked to the business school.

“What are we going to do for businesses? We can help you develop your business.

“We also have lots of schemes like Invest to Grow, which gives out loans and grants.

“Come and talk to us about how we can support you. That is the purpose of the business school.

“It’s going to be a beautiful building – but actually we need you to access the funds that would help the city grow even more.

“I don’t want a business school just for students – I want a business school that actually means that our city is more prosperous, our students and our graduates stay here, and we develop our SME community, to grow from small to medium.”