Derby, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

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Derby’s ambition is to deliver a successful sustainable future where its residents are supported to realize their full potential. Membership of UNESCO GNLC is pivotal in delivering on this ambition.

Mr Robin Wood

Mayor

An industrial and export powerhouse

Derby is an industrial city with a history of innovation. Despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Derby remains one of the UK’s industrial and export powerhouses, with some of the largest numbers of advanced manufacturing jobs in the UK.  

Vision and Strategy

We intend to implement the learning city concept by building on the strong foundations that have been established through the Opportunity Area Partnership Board (OAPB) programme. This project focuses on three key areas: 1) early years (increasing the number of children achieving a good level of development); 2) school Improvement (raising attainment in primary and secondary schools); and 3) broadening horizons. Moreover, we plan to seize opportunities to share best practices within the GNLC, contributing to the network and benefiting from peer learning.  

Policies, Plan and Implementation

Sustainability and health

• The city recognizes the importance of health and reflects this in its priorities and strategic planning, informed by its involvement in the OAPB. Major programmes have been implemented, such as Emotionally Healthy Schools, whose legacy is to establish within schools an infrastructure of mental health expertise that will support young people and staff for years to come.  

Equity and inclusion

• Derby has been working closely with communities to offer more inclusive programmes, e.g. through the prioritization of the OAPB in commissioning Derby County Community Trust to deliver an inclusion programme for vulnerable young people during the 2020/21 and 2021/22 academic years, supported by an investment of GBP 900,000. 

Decent work and entrepreneurship

• To build an inclusive city of entrepreneurship, the city works with the Local Enterprise Partnership, D2N2, to support young adults with special educational needs and disabilities. The city also supports the post-16 transition from school to employment, working with schools, higher education institutions, cornerstone employers and SMEs. 

Good practices

Better Together

• Born out of the COVID-19 pandemic, Better Together is Derby City Council’s flagship strategy to support residents, and focuses on community leadership, ownership and partnership. Working with Community Action Derby and a host of third-sector partners, Better Together puts residents at the centre of actions. 

Our Future Derby project

• Through a pioneering approach to career-related learning, the project links children in 33 primary schools across Derby with inspiring role models from the world of work. From January to July 2021, the project engaged over 7,500 children and teachers in a range of career-related activities with local role models from a variety of backgrounds and sectors.

This is Derby

• A unique combination of sports, arts and cultural activities supporting the development of essential life skills among young people in Derby. The project is key to tackling social mobility gaps, and to empowering young people to improve essential life skills such as resilience, emotional well-being and employability.