Study names Derby a top city for manufacturing growth potential

Derby has been named one of the UK’s top cities to start or grow a manufacturing business, according to a new study.

The city has been placed 11th in the latest Regional Manufacturing Growth Powerhouse Report, which looks at the best places for small- to mid-sized manufacturers.

Compiled by Unleashed, the study looked at which towns and cities have the most growth potential.

It analysed the five biggest manufacturing towns and cities in each region of England, scoring them on factors such as warehouse space availability, workforce size and broadband speed, which could support advanced manufacturing.

In the research, Derby scored particularly highly for its workforce size.

The research supports Derby’s inward investment pitch, which draws on the fact that, for over 300 years, Derby has welcomed innovators – thinking, making and trading ideas and products, which have changed the world – and is today home to global names in advanced manufacturing, including Rolls-Royce, Toyota Manufacturing UK and Alstom, and their supply chains.

Kathryn Allen, chief operating officer at Marketing Derby, the city’s investment promotion agency, said: “Derby continues to be a location of choice for manufacturing businesses.

“Firms from across the UK – and internationally – are attracted to Derby because of its talented workforce and the support provided by education providers, such as the University of Derby and Derby College Group to shape their future skills pipelines.

“At the heart of the UK, the city’s connectivity is also a key attractor for businesses and, importantly, we have space for future growth – from Infinity Park Derby as part of the East Midlands Investment Zone to sites which understand the requirements of high-tech businesses such as SmartParc SEGRO Derby and Indurent Park Derby.”

The Regional Manufacturing Growth Powerhouse Report also looked at which regions in the UK currently lead the way on manufacturing performance, using operational data of 1,322 SME manufacturers using its inventory management software in the first quarter of the year.

The company’s researchers gave each of the UK’s 12 regions a score out of 100 based on five data points: sales revenue, lead days, profit margins, stock levels and purchasing costs.

The East Midlands was placed fourth, with an index score of 62.29.

Joe Llewellyn, general manager of ERP Small Business Division at The Access Group, the parent company of Unleashed, said: “Regional disparities aren’t always obvious when you look at the UK’s manufacturing health as a whole – but they are an important barometer for both policymakers as well as manufacturers looking to start or expand a business.”

To read the Unleashed Regional Growth Powerhouse Report click here.

Contact the inward investment team at Marketing Derby for help and advice if you are considering expanding or locating your manufacturing business in the Derby area https://www.marketingderby.co.uk/investinderby/.