Minister for Cities Greg Clark says that Derby has all the ingredients needed for economic success.
THE year 2014 has seen growth establish itself right across the UK.
Growth is not an end in itself. Its true importance lies in the impact it has on people’s lives, through jobs, housing and regeneration, for the benefit of all, and not just in London and the south east of England.
There is a new and highly significant investment trend emerging.
At recent investor events such as MIPIM and Expo Real, UK delegates have begun to see a new push towards investment elsewhere in Britain.
Clever money is starting to look closely at other British cities as a destination for their funds.
Shrewd investors are beginning to look at markets outside of London, believing them to offer greater value-uplift and improved yields.
Why is this happening? Well, partly, of course, it is simply market forces, sniffing out undervalued opportunities. But partly it is to do with a new spirit of independence in our UK cities and this is exemplified in Derby.
The Government is soon to sign a Local Growth Deal with your local enterprise partnership, D2N2, which builds on the work already under way through the Regional Growth Fund to promote a city-led devolution in Derby, with signal projects such as the RTC Business Park.
Through the work of D2N2 and Marketing Derby, you have been hugely successful in getting civic and business leaders to work together to enhance your attractiveness to investors.
The Derby city leaders fully understand that to attract entrepreneurs to your city, you must yourselves be entrepreneurial, acting constantly to improve the liveability and workability of the Derby community.
Needless to say, this work is beginning to reap rewards in Derby, as will be showcased at this week’s Derby Property Summit, making you more and more attractive to both foreign direct investment and our own UK institutional investors.
Government will do all we can to support you but it is the Derby city leaders who are themselves organising to secure your future financial well-being, unleashing all your potential energy for growth, and determining your own economic future.
It is the city of Derby itself that is rising to the challenge. Derby has a serious manifesto for growth, and all the ingredients for major economic success. I congratulate you.
Source: Derby Telegraph
