The transformation of a landmark Grade II-listed building – funded with D2N2 assistance – was formally opened today (June 28) by HRH The Duke of Gloucester.
Derby’s Marble Hall, on Nightingale Road, Osmaston, is located on a former Rolls-Royce site. Its renovation is one of a number of projects which together make up the Connect Derby initiative, which aims to bring together a number of sites – Friar Gate Studios, Kings Chambers, Sadler Bridge Studios, Riverside Chambers, Marble Hall and Shot Tower – to provide small businesses, entrepreneurs and SMEs with the necessary IT infrastructure and business support to help them grow.
The Marble Hall development was given £1.5million from D2N2 – the Local Enterprise Partnership serving Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire – from its Growing Places Fund (GPF). Facilities at the site now include 42 high specification offices, an onsite kitchen and training provision provided by YMCA Derbyshire. GPF is a loans scheme set-up to provide businesses and organisations with funding to kick-start development projects, which directly create economic growth and jobs; particularly in the LEP area’s key sectors such as construction. To date GPF has approved 13 loans worth a total of £16.6m.
Upon his arrival at the site, the Duke of Gloucester was greeted by pupils from a local school and presented with a mosaic made especially for him, before being introduced to representatives from Derby City Council and Sir Ralph Robins, former Chairman of Rolls-Royce. During the visit, the Duke reviewed the groundbreaking restoration work to bring the building back to public use, before meeting representatives from YMCA Derbyshire and taking a tour of the new onsite kitchen and training centre. He was then introduced to the constructors and architects for the scheme, along with members of staff and tenants, before unveiling a commemorative plaque to mark the occasion.
The fourth round of Growing Places Funding was opened to applications earlier this month (June). Individual loans of between £250,000 and £2million are available to companies or organisations and must be to finance capital (building and infrastructure) to help further development. Further information about D2N2’s Growing Places Fund and its past projects, and the terms around how to apply for funding now through Round 4, can be found at www.d2n2lep.org/GPF.
To find out more about the work of the D2N2 LEP generally, click here
To find out more about GPF, click here
For more information about the above release, please contact Sam Burbage, Social Media and Marketing Manager at the D2N2 LEP, on 01159 578254, or by email sam.burbage@d2n2lep.org.
