David Ralph, Chief Executive of D2N2 LEP
Next week, the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership will be in MIPIM supporting Team Nottingham and Marketing Derby in trying to attract potential inward investments across our core city and key city.
The Enterprise Zone in Nottingham and Infinity Park in Derby provide compelling propositions for in which to invest but it will be highly competitive with other LEPs, cities and counties making their case.
We’ve gone high-tech this year with new apps providing detailed graphics on how your development might look but inevitably it will be our key propositions about connectivity, high skill sets and value of proposition that will make an investor take a second look.
And taking a second look is what we can readily achieve.
However, we have a great offer. Nottingham, a UK core city, is changing daily with the new tram, improved station and new A453 access from the M1 Motorway all to be completed in the next 12 months. It will also be promoting key employment sites across the wider Nottingham area.
Derby, home to the manufacturing giants of Rolls Royce, Bombardier and Toyota, is being marketed as the UK’s capital for innovation and there is a strong focus on Infinity Park and the new innovation centre.
Also, innovation is a key strategic priority within the D2N2 plan. Innovation is in our DNA.
D2N2’s presence through me and our Chairman Peter Richardson will help support both Nottingham and Derby but it is also a greater opportunity to market all of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire area and the investment opportunities across the whole patch, highlighting why D2N2 is the UK’s Most Inspirational Postcode.
Peter and I will be speaking at a number of events and it provides a great networking opportunity to establish key contacts and build relationships with a view to attracting investment into the wider D2N2 area, across both counties.
Both Team Nottingham and Marketing Derby are hosting a series of events to attract that second look and are taking a whole host of private sector partners to talk up the area and inspire action.
That is what we hope – and intend – to achieve next week.
David Ralph
Chief Executive
D2N2 LEP
