‘A welcoming place of opportunity and potential’ – why we chose Derby

This year’s Derby Property Summit panel discussion brought together local employers, inward investors, developers and small business owners to explain why they had chosen Derby.

It included Karen Clark, director of operations at Ergo Advantage, Emma Davies, head of regeneration at AtkinsRéalis, Henrik Juhl Hansen, managing director (UK and Ireland) at Vaillant Group, Bruce Lister, managing director at Compendium Living and Lesley So, chief executive of OMOMO Korean Street Food.

First up was Karen, whose company, Ergo Advantage, a Canadian-based manufacturer of anti-fatigue flooring, has recently invested in opening a new Derby location.

When asked why her firm was attracted to Derby, she said: “For me, Derby just had a really good feel about it.

“It felt very welcoming the first time I came back in April last year to look for a good office space – and a good place for me to call home for the next two to five years.

“We were looking for an innovative place, with the folks from Marketing Derby really helping us to find the right spot.

“They took us around Derby and let us know what was on offer and everything that was going to be happening.

“The Condor is where I call home now. The whole area just feels like home now.

“We found an office at Sadler Gate Bridge Studios. It’s just so closely connected and so much of what you need is just right here in the city centre.

“It was very welcoming right from the beginning.”

Emma’s company, AtkinsRéalis, is one of the world’s leading project consultancies with a large footprint in Derby.

When asked what ‘the magic of Derby’ was, she said: “For me personally and the business, it’s a city which makes you feel that everybody belongs. That’s a really strong ethos in our company.

“It’s very important you can feel at home, whether you’re a business, a visitor or a resident.

“We all recognise that we can do more in the city to encourage that – but automatically, when you come to the city, you do feel part of it.

“It’s no surprise that it has managed to attract such strong investment, including a number of high-tech companies and from businesses like Rolls-Royce.

“It does provide an opportunity for those businesses to grow, and that’s very important.”

Vaillant Group develops products for heating, cooling and hot water.

Headquartered in Belper, the firm recently opened a new facility at Indurent Park Derby to manufacture heat pumps.

Henrik said: “We’ve been in Belper since 1966 and recently opened a new facility in Derby, which we are really proud of.

“We have employees who have lived in Derby for many, many years – generations of people.

“There is so much opportunity in this city, and we are excited to be part of it.

“We couldn’t be prouder of both our manufacturing plant but also being able to sponsor this fantastic venue.

“One of the attractions of Derby when it comes to investing is access to people – and the work of the colleges and universities here. That’s a massive upside.

“What we’ve done is work with Derby College Group on the first low carbon heating technician apprenticeship. It’s now in its third year and the interest is increasing.

“We’ve been welcomed by Derby College, and we are continuing to build on that relationship.”

Compendium Living is currently delivering a new neighbourhood, including 800 homes, as well as commercial space and public realm, at Castleward. The project is now entering its fourth phase.

Bruce said: “We’ve now been in Derby 10 years. We arrived in Derby as an act of faith – that we believed there was an opportunity to attract people to live back in the city centre.

“That was founded on strong collaboration and a really clear vision from the city council about what the opportunity might be.

“We’re now at phase four – people are voting with their feet and are now living at Castleward.”

Lesley said she was inspired to set up her Korean food business in the Cathedral Quarter after attending the Derby Property Summit a couple of years ago.

She said: “When I think of Derby, I think of opportunity and potential. Two years ago, I was at this summit sat at the back, listening to all of these stories and watching all the plans for new developments.

“And it suddenly occurred to me, what’s missing in Derby is a Korean street food restaurant! At the time, I thought I’m going to get someone to do it.

“One thing led to another, Marketing Derby introduced me to the wonderful Trevor Raybould, and I now have a restaurant on the Strand.

“It’s possible for those who have the vision, the energy and the drive to make something happen here. What a wonderful place to be.”