Why we invested in Derby: The University of Derby

Next month, the University of Derby will open the doors to its £75 million Cavendish Building, a flagship scheme in the city centre, which will be home to the Derby International Business School. Here, in her own words, Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL, vice-chancellor and chief executive at the university, explains why it decided to invest in the city centre.

Our investment in Derby reflects our deep commitment to the city’s people, its potential and its growing prominence on both the national and international stage.

As a ‘civic university’, we take seriously our responsibility to foster economic, social, cultural, educational and environmental prosperity across the region.

Each year, the University of Derby contributes an estimated £300 million to the regional economy through job creation, research, contracts, partnerships and more.

This ambition has led to one of our most significant developments to date: The Cavendish Building.

Our £75 million flagship facility is home to the Derby International Business School, and we are proud to be opening its doors this September.

Located in the heart of the city, opposite our Law School, the seven-storey building strengthens our connectivity across Derby, delivering benefits to students, businesses and communities alike.

We invite our city to engage with our academics, students and business partners.

The Cavendish Building features accessible spaces for training, research, cutting-edge resources, and student collaboration.

We believe it will serve as a catalyst for innovation – where ideas are exchanged, partnerships are formed, leading to new business investment in our city.

At the heart of the Derby International Business School is the ethos: ‘Better Business, Better Society, Better Future’.

We believe business can – and should – be a force for good, and our curricula, partnerships and working practices reflect that belief.

Sustainability is embedded in everything we do: from interdisciplinary learning that encourages students to apply environmental thinking to practical business decision-making, to the sustainable design and operation of our facilities, we are preparing our students to lead responsible change.

We are proud to collaborate with industry leaders such as Rolls-Royce, Toyota, Alstom and the NHS, alongside our essential SME partners, to co-create talent pipelines that support both the local and global economy.

These partnerships help us attract thousands of students from across the UK and around the world, while also retaining talent in the region – benefiting organisations through access to outstanding graduate expertise.

Looking ahead, we anticipate strong growth in both UK and international student demand over the next decade.

The Cavendish Building is central to meeting this, ensuring Derby remains a destination of choice for students, academics and industry.

This is a pivotal year for Derby. With the momentum of major regeneration projects, like our very own Cavendish Building, we see significant potential to generate a ripple effect of prosperity and opportunity across the wider region.

Through strategic investment, long-term vision and collaboration across sectors, we are not simply opening a new building – we are shaping the blueprint for the business school of the future and redefining how universities work with industry.

Derby is a region known for industry, innovation, and opportunity – and we are proud to contribute to its continued success.

When education, business and community come together, the possibilities are truly transformative.