Dinner at the Roundhouse once again proved to be the hottest ticket in town on the 19th October, with an attendance list reading like a who’s who of Derby.
The city’s most influential movers and shakers including MP for Derby South Margaret Beckett, Councillor Baggy Shanker and senior representatives from Toyota Motor Manufacturing and Rolls-Royce came together with stakeholders from across the rail industry to celebrate collaboration and innovation.
It was a hectic day, not least for the team at Ford & Stanley. From hosting a drinks reception for our 100 invited rail guests, to the dinner itself and then onto an afterparty, all across three locations, it’s fair to say it proved a logistical challenge but one which was pulled off successfully, judging by the collective thumbs up from all who participated! This was the culmination of months of planning behind the scenes and it was hugely rewarding to see our plans come to fruition.
The event not only showcased the opportunities that Great British Railways (GBR) brings in terms of boosting the region’s business prosperity and creating opportunities for all, but also served as a reminder of why, thanks to its rich heritage, Derby is poised to lead the UK in engineering excellence and innovation.
Here are just three of many reasons why:
1. Derby is the national hub of rail
Following the announcement in March 2023 that Derby is the home of GBR, the move is seen as a significant boost not just to the city but across the region. Hailed as the most ambitious changes to the rail system in a generation, this will bring key jobs into the city and reinvigorate economic growth after the fallout from Covid-19, while cementing the city’s position as a national centre of the rail industry.
With its 200-year legacy to fall back on, many see Derby and the rail industry go hand-in-hand, as the home of the country’s largest train factory, alongside the many small businesses in the supply chain that have established one of Europe’s largest rail clusters.
Alongside other regional projects such as the East Midlands Freeport, GBR will help to attract new investment from companies that are looking to relocate near a national centre of excellence and create jobs for these skills to thrive, reflecting the Government’s levelling up agenda.
2. Derby is the site of the world’s first factory
Built in 1721 by George Sorocold and owned by the Lombe brothers, Derby Silk Mill sits on the site of the world’s first factory. Over three centuries, it has been ravaged by fire and the wrecking ball, but the site was recently reincarnated as a new, £17m Museum of Making. Within the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site, the museum will profile the city’s 300-year history of “making”, displaying over 50,000 objects and celebrating its rich history of innovation.
3. Derby is home to major players in the automotive and aviation industry
For over a century, the name of Rolls-Royce has been synonymous with Derby. The company was founded by Charles Rolls and Frederick Henry Royce, two engineering pioneers of motoring and aviation.
The Derby factory was established in 1907, initially making cars of quality and then aeroengines which proved to be pivotal in winning the Second World War and set an unprecedented benchmark for worldwide engine manufacture. Now a jet engine maker, the company employs 42,000 people across the globe with around half based in the UK, employing 13,700 people in Derby.
Toyota’s decision to establish a manufacturing operation in the UK was announced in 1989 and Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd was established in December that year. The Japanese carmaker currently employs 2,500 workers in Derby at its Burnaston factory.
Not too long ago, Derby was at great risk of a downturn, but its future looks bright once again as it waits to reap the benefits of being the new Great British Railways HQ.
If you want to harness Derby’s brightest talent to propel your business forward, Ford & Stanley can help engineer the perfect solution tailored to your exact needs through its unique recruitment services.
Contact the team now on 01332 344443 to discuss how we can help you to achieve better workdays.
