500th Bondholder event toasts ‘Team Derby’ spirit

2024 saw Marketing Derby reach an important milestone – its 500th Bondholder event.

And appropriately, that event just happened to be the inward investment agency’s annual London Embassy, where the landmark was celebrated in style with cake, fizz and even a specially printed newspaper ‘The Bondholder Standard’.

Held in the stunning surroundings of Mansion House, home and office to the Lord Mayor of London, the London Embassy saw more than 200 guests, including civic leaders, Bondholders, investors and ambassadors come together to hear about the investment momentum and regeneration plans for Derby – the UK’s Capital for Innovation.

As well as outlining the strength of Derby’s economy, the embassy also paid tribute to Marketing Derby’s Bondholder community – and the spirit of partnership that exists within what has become collectively known as ‘Team Derby’.

Backed by headline partner Smith Partnership, the reception heard presentations from a number of keynote speakers.

They included Alice Hunt, group communications director at Rolls-Royce, Derby’s largest private sector employer, who addressed the embassy to talk about why the engineering giant is continuing to invest in the city.

The firm, which hosted the first ever Bondholder event back in 2007, has been in Derby for more than 100 years. The city is home to its Civil Aerospace and Defence divisions.

In recent years, the firm has been investing heavily in nuclear, including at its Raynesway site, which will build power plants for the AUKUS submarines, and in the creation of a Nuclear Skills Academy – creating the nuclear engineers of the future.

Alice said: “Derby is in the blood of Rolls-Royce and we’re really proud of our heritage – but also excited about the opportunities which lie ahead.

“We are now full speed ahead on our transformation – and we believe we can take Rolls-Royce to the next level. All of this is good news for Derby as we are investing in our growth.

“But we can only succeed if we have the support of our partners and suppliers. Long term partnership will always be at the heart of what we do at Rolls-Royce.

“Our success is the region’s success – which is why Rolls-Royce will continue to fully support Marketing Derby and the incredible work it does to showcase everyone in this room and the wider Derby community.”

As Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward is the figurehead of the East Midlands Combined County Authority, which is aiming to attract more investment to the region.

Speaking at her first London Embassy, she said: “Our role is to highlight the East Midlands – to show that devolution can work for us – and that we can indeed be a greater sum than our parts.

“Derby is at the heart of everything we will do in that. I look forward to working with you to make the East Midlands the best region to live in, to work in and to learn in.”

Attending her first London Embassy as leader of Derby City Council, Councillor Nadine Peatfied, who was recently made Deputy Mayor of the East Midlands, shared the story of a “city on the rise”.

She outlined why 2025 was shaping up to be a “pivotal year” for Derby, with major regeneration and public realm projects taking place, many of which have been made possible thanks to investment “that has been achieved in partnership”.

She told the embassy: “Derby is a city on the rise, brimming with ambition and a bold vision for our future which we are determined to make a reality.

“We’re a city of innovators, of pioneers. We’re resilient, progressive and we are always evolving.

“But it’s not all about bricks and mortar – Derby is about people. Team Derby is not just a concept, it’s a force to be reckoned with.

“Being part of Team Derby is not just about being from Derby – it’s about being ambitious for, proud of and a collective advocate of Derby.

“The ethos is simple. Together as one team we can achieve extraordinary things for our city. Go Team Derby!”

John Forkin, managing director of Marketing Derby, said: “We see these events as an opportunity to meet each other, to network and to celebrate – but also to say, ‘thank you’.

“The support you give as local civic leaders, as partners, as stakeholders, as businesses, to our inward investment work is absolutely crucial.

“That’s what I believe we have here in what I call ‘Team Derby’.”