How new £70m business school will elevate Derby

In the latest edition of Marketing Derby’s Innovate Magazine we look ahead to the opening of the University of Derby’s impressive £70 million new Derby Business School building.

Located on a high-profile city centre site, the building, which is now nearing completion, is a powerful symbol  of the university’s ambition – to encourage innovation, create new leaders, stimulate growth and, through ground-breaking research, demonstrate how business can help build a better global future.

In the current edition of Innovate, we sit down with Nicola Lynch, head of Derby Business School, for a Q&A to understand more about the project’s aims, including the commitment to sustainability which is guiding the way the school is constructed and will operate.

According to Nicola, the development – known as the Cavendish Building – will be the first net-zero business school outside of London.

She told Innovate: “The Cavendish Building, which will be home to Derby Business School, is proposed to be net-zero carbon in both its construction process and operational management.

“It is due to be the first net-zero business school outside of London and forms part of our wider promise to sustainably support entrepreneurial growth and business connectivity in Derby.

“Environmental sustainability is at the heart of the new development, and we have adopted a holistic, integrated approach that is critical for optimising energy use, integrating passive and active environmental design principles into the design.

“We are maximising energy efficiency utilising sustainably sourced low-impact and recycled materials, while minimising operational running costs, fabric maintenance and plant replacement.”

A key aim of the new business school building will be inclusivity and encouraging new levels of engagement with business.

Nicola told Innovate: “Inclusivity and fostering even deeper engagement with industry is essential for our new Business School building because it not only broadens access to education but also helps create a diverse and dynamic learning environment.

“This inclusivity builds a richer pool of perspectives, ideas and experiences, which helps drive innovation and better prepares our students for the global business landscape.

“As a Civic University, we have a responsibility to deliver economic, social, cultural, educational and environmental prosperity to the region.

“The University of Derby brings roughly £300 million to the regional economy every year through jobs, contracts, research and more.

“Derby Business School offers knowledge exchange, teaching and learning, employment opportunities, and impactful research.

“It presents an important opportunity to assure the region’s long-term sustainability.”

To read the feature in full visit https://heyzine.com/flip-book/09140571b9.html#page/14.