Showcasing the projects that make up Derby’s ‘olympic’ year

2025 has been dubbed Derby’s ‘olympic’ year as a number of key developments designed to revitalise the city centre come online.

At this year’s Annual Business Event, the audience heard from some of the key figures behind those schemes, who came together for a panel discussion.

Kicking things off was Paul Harwood, director of partner and places at Great British Railways.

Derby won a nationwide competition to be the location of the headquarters for GBR, which is a new national rail body responsible for the country’s railways.

Paul explained how GBR was working with the city to bring “more value” on the back of its headquarters through the creation of Rail Campus Derby.

He told the ABE: “We already have a small office here – and a shortlist of potential locations in the city for the headquarters. The decision is ready to be influenced, so we’re ready to go with the next stage.

“We’re also working with rail companies and stakeholders to try to understand what the concept of a rail campus represents – how we can get more value than just a headquarters building in its own right.”

Joining Paul on the panel was Dr Nicola Lynch, head of Derby Business School at the University of Derby, which is set to move into the Cavendish Building – a new £70 million building in the city, which is due to open later this year.

She said: “It’s exceptionally exciting. Our move into the city is very much a strategic one.

“Not only will it have state-of-the-art facilities for our students and staff, but it will also provide a natural hub for business activity.

“As part of this development, we’ve created a blueprint of how we can work more effectively and meaningfully with industry, tapping into all the knowledge we have.

“We also have a pipeline of talent coming through the university – and we want this to benefit the city by keeping those graduates in Derby.”

Beth McDonald, managing director of Derbion, shared details of the ongoing work to create the Eastern Gateway, which is transforming the area opposite the bus station and the eastern entrance to the shopping and leisure destination.

She also talked about Derbion’s wider masterplan to create 1,500 homes on its estate – an exhibition on which has opened this week at the Derby City Lab and will run until 4 February.

She said: “We have an exciting year ahead. The Eastern Gateway is a great example of working in partnership with the city council, and will create a better welcome, particularly for those visiting the city by bus.

“We also have an eye on the decades to come with a masterplan that is under consultation, which will bring more residential and mixed-use space to three sites.”

Fellow panellist Marcus Sheehan, general manager at Becketwell Live talked about what to expect at the much-anticipated new venue, which is due to open this year.

He also revealed that Becketwell Live will be the new location for Marketing Derby’s 2025 Derby Property Summit, which is due to take place on 9th July.

He said: “Becketwell Live will be run and operated by a talented local team, which is really important because those people understand the DNA of the city and what it takes to make it work.

“We’re really keen for this to be more than a live entertainment venue. We want to engage local businesses and the local community.

“What’s important for me is that we are the ‘party’ in Derby. You are very passionate people – and I want that to come through in all I see in the venue.”

Finally, Hana York, venue manager at Derby Market Hall, talked about what to expect from the revamped venue, which has undergone a £35 million transformation.

The revitalised historic Victorian building will be home to a number of stallholders, food vendors and makers and traders.

She also exclusively revealed that the Market Hall will be the location for the third iteration of the Derby City Lab, currently located in Derbion, which aims to engage and inform the public about the city’s regeneration story.

Hana said: “The Market Hall is an absolute jewel in the heart of our city. Particularly on the inside, the changes are absolutely transformative.

“We’re going to have a wonderful food offering, we’ll have traditional food stalls, dry goods retailers and creators from our craft community.

“We’ll also have an amazing array of events and activities to encourage people to come and see the place for themselves and experience some of the best entrepreneurs the city has to offer.

“We’re particularly thrilled and delighted to welcome the next iteration of the Derby City Lab.

“We know it has had an amazing home in Derbion – and we have very big shoes to fill. I’m very pleased we can have that partnership with Marketing Derby and all of your Bondholders.”