London Embassy 2025: Power of partnership is Derby’s Tower of strength

The Tower of London provided a fitting backdrop to this year’s Marketing Derby London Embassy, which celebrated the strength of Derby’s public-private sector partnership in supporting and attracting investment.

Two hundred guests, including Bondholders, investors and key stakeholders, descended on the iconic landmark for this year’s embassy, which featured private access to the Tower and its grounds, as well as a drinks reception.

Backed by event partners Smith Partnership and AtkinsRéalis, as well as event supporters Derbion and the University of Derby, the reception heard from a number of guest speakers.

John Forkin, managing director of Marketing Derby, which is the Queen’s Award-winning inward investment promotion agency for the Derby area, said: “This was our 18th London Embassy, which I think is an amazing achievement by Team Derby – but I think out of all the locations, the Tower of London is the most historic.

“We have held embassies all over – Birmingham, Monaco, even China – but there’s something special about the Derby/London relationship.”

The Tower of London is steeped in British history. Originally built by William the Conqueror in the 1070s, over the years the UNESCO World Heritage Site has served as a royal palace, fortress, prison and treasury.

Today, it is a popular tourist attraction – and last night, embassy delegates were given exclusive access.

They were given private tours, hosted by the Yeoman Warders, which included a viewing of the Crown Jewels.

The tours also took in the grounds where attendees were moved by a special display of ceramic poppies, created to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

The display included 30,000 poppies, originally made in Derby over a decade ago for a similar installation created by local artist Paul Cummins MBE, who was among last night’s guests.

Following the tours, delegates were directed to the New Armouries, for drinks and speeches, during which special thanks were given to law firm Smith Partnership, which has supported the London Embassy on no less than six occasions.

In particular, the embassy paid tribute to its managing partner Kevin McGrath, who is retiring after more than three decades of service.

Also among those invited to speak was East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward and Councillor Nadine Peatfield, leader of Derby City Council and the region’s Deputy Mayor, who talked about the ambition for the city and wider region, its investment opportunities and the role Derby will play in helping deliver local growth plans.

Talking about the recently launched East Midlands Growth Plan, Claire said: “The local growth plan is a 10-year ambition. We are hoping to add £13 billion to our regional economy, build 100,000 homes, get 60,000 people into work and skill up over 200,000 people – and we want to make sure every single part of the region benefits from the investment we bring in.

“Inward investment is absolutely crucial. We’ve got to help companies already in the region grow but we’ve also got to bring money in.

“We are keen to work with our partners right across the region.”

Nadine said the ‘unique’ public-private partnership that exists in Derby will play a key role in delivering that growth.

She said: “The public-private partnership we have in Derby is utterly unique. We are bigger than the sum of our parts.

“The Government is putting growth at the forefront of how we transform our country. Derby is the poster child for growth. We have all the components – and have the most potential for growth in the entire region.”

Also addressing this year’s embassy was the University of Derby’s vice-chancellor and chief executive, Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL.

Marketing Derby recently announced it is moving its headquarters to the university’s brand new, £75 million state-of-the-art Cavendish Building, which is also the new home of the Derby International Business School.

And last night at the London Embassy, the two organisations announced a renewal of their long-standing strategic partnership.