A company move is set to see further jobs created at the only UK Enterprise Zone covered by two Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP) – the D2N2 and Sheffield City Region LEPs.
The Markham Vale site, close to junction 29A of the M1, near Chesterfield, is due to welcome Meter Provida (based in the town) in November (2015). Construction work has begun on its base, a new 40,000 sq ft unit designed and built by Henry Boot Developments.
Meter Provida – a supplier of gas, water and electricity metering products – is anticipating an increase in staff numbers as a result of the move.
Henry Boot Construction – Derbyshire property planning company who will build the new site
Markham Vale, on the site of the former Seymour Colliery, is one of the largest Enterprise Zones in the country and the only one covered by two Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), one of which is D2N2. D2N2 is a partnership of business, local authorities, and skills and training providers which works to promote economic growth and create jobs in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
Both D2N2 and the Sheffield City Region LEP are investing in development of the Markham Vale site. Like many other Enterprise Zones around the country it is former industrial, or previously under-developed, land made attractive for business relocation through advantages such as reduced business rates and Government-funded superfast broadband.
Work is expected to begin later this year (and due for completion in 2016) on the £7.5m Seymour Link Road, to link Markham Vale to junction 29A of the M1, to improve access. D2N2 is putting £2.52m into the road’s costs, with additional funding from Derbyshire County Council and the Sheffield City Region LEP.
Tim Houtby, Managing Director at Meter Provida, said: “Location was an important factor for us when looking for a new base. We needed good access to major transport routes but wanted to stay local to minimise disruption for our existing staff, making Markham Vale the perfect choice.”
D2N2 Chief Executive David Ralph added: “Enterprise Zone development is at the core of the D2N2 Strategic Economic Plan and key to delivering our strategy of creating 55,000 new private sector jobs in key industries, over ten years.”
Other companies already on the Markham Vale site include AW Repair Group, MSE Hiller and Andrew Page.
D2N2 also is the sole LEP covering the Derby and Nottingham Enterprise Zone. It includes the Boots Enterprise Zone, Nottingham Medipark, Beeston Business Park and Nottingham Science Park in Nottinghamshire; and Infinity Park in Derby.
To find out more about Enterprise Zones – click here
To find out more about the work of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership – click here
