New £3.2m funding to help boost city centre

Derby City Council said the funding would go towards supporting entrepreneurs and local businesses

Derby City Council is set to receive £3.2m in government funding to boost regeneration efforts.

The money, from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, will be used to support a "fresh phase" of projects, including a scheme to help businesses expand into empty units in Derby.

The authority said the funding would also go towards initiatives to revitalise public spaces and enhance employability and skills for residents.

Council leader Nadine Peatfield said the funding provided a "chance to create lasting change".

A previous allocation from the shared prosperity fund provided grants and one-on-one advice to 168 local businesses, the city council said.

The authority said the previous programme brought £53m of investment to the local economy and created hundreds of jobs.

Marketing Derby, a local investment promotion agency, has also been awarded £300,000 to help its work in attracting new businesses to the city.

Peatfield said: "This new funding is fantastic news for Derby.

"It will enable us to build on our achievements, seize opportunities to bring life to vacant properties in the city centre, champion innovative new businesses and help people get the skills they need for a changing economy."

The funding will have to be used by March 2026.