A project which supports businesses looking to move to Derbyshire has exceeded its targets when it comes to attracting new firms and jobs to the county.
Over the past three years, the Derbyshire County Council-backed initiative has helped more than 40 firms bring over 100 new jobs to Derbyshire.
Now, the project, under the banner Invest in Derbyshire, is to be extended for a further three years with the aim of supporting 80 more businesses to relocate to or start-up in the county.
Backed by Derbyshire County Council and the Derbyshire Economic Partnership (DEP), Invest in Derbyshire has been designed to support the county’s ambition to be the destination of choice for investors and businesses.
It aims to raise the profile of Derbyshire globally to secure investment and create new jobs.
It also aims to make it easier for investors to choose Derbyshire by providing a one-stop shop offering business support tailored to individual needs, including information about suitable sites and workforce skills.
Councillor Tony King, the county council’s cabinet member for economic development and regeneration, said: “Derbyshire is a unique destination, birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and recognised as a global hub for high value modern manufacturing.
“By attracting businesses to Derbyshire, the project has exceeded its target of creating 86 jobs by an extra 25 posts and is currently dealing with inquiries from dozens more firms considering setting up in the county.
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“Over the next three years we’ll focus on delivering an even better and intensive service providing a wide range of specialist inward investment support to small and medium-sized businesses.
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“We’ll also look to work with large investors looking to relocate, launch or grow their business with the aim of bringing hundreds of new jobs to Derbyshire.”
One firm helped to relocate through the Invest in Derbyshire service is Millitec Food Systems, which is settling into new premises in Draycott having moved to the county from Leicestershire.
Support provided to the firm, which designs and manufactures machinery and robotics for use in the food production industry, included inward investment advice, support to access grant funding towards the cost of machinery and ongoing support in identifying skills providers for its workforce and recruitment opportunities.
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Richard Ledger, managing director at Millitec, said: “We’re thrilled to be moving to our new site in Draycott. The Invest in Derbyshire service helped us secure funding via University of Derby’s ‘Invest to Grow’ programme, which was vital in supporting bringing the site in line with our requirements for our ongoing expansion plans in the region.
“We have invested in the highest specification equipment, including ultra-precise laser cutting machinery and an all-new machining facility.
“This will allow us to grow rapidly across the next three years, trebling our output and extending our ongoing research and development programme into energy efficient and time saving high-care robotics for the food processing industry.”