New Rail Innovation Centre opens its doors

A state-of-the-art rail innovation and training centre in Barrow Hill has been officially opened and is ready to welcome businesses, researchers and learners.

The Derbyshire Rail Industry Innovation Vehicle (DRIIVe) is a flagship destination for the rail industry offering modern classrooms and training areas, specialist research and development facilities including a digital laboratory, and high-quality commercial workshop space.

It was officially opened by Ivan Fomin, the independent business chair of Staveley Town Deal Board which managed town deal funding programme that funded the majority of the £6 million development. Additional funding for the project has been provided by East Midlands Combined County Authority and Chesterfield Borough Council.

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, said: “The Derbyshire Rail Industry Innovation Vehicle is a fantastic example of how targeted investment into our region’s strengths can create lasting benefits. By putting funding into this project, we’ve helped bring this important project to life, accelerating the delivery of specialist skills and supporting the future of the rail industry.

“The opening of DRIIVe is a significant milestone in the wider regeneration of the area, which will also unlock future opportunities at nearby sites such as Hartington Staveley as part of our East Midlands Investment Zone ambitions. As we work to attract investment from clean energy industries and advanced manufacturing, facilities like this give us a strong platform to grow our high-value sectors, including rail, where the East Midlands has heritage, a strong track record, and a real competitive advantage.”

DRIIVe is being delivered by Chesterfield Borough Council in collaboration with Barrow Hill Engine Shed Society, and its commercial arm, Barrow Hill Ltd, will manage the facility on a day-to-day basis.

The centre will support specialist training providers – offering rail-related education from level two through to postgraduate training and research.

Becoming a prominent location for rail technology, DRIIVe will also serve as a base for rail-related supply chain businesses which will have access to the very latest research and innovation.

Works on the new facility, which is located next to the historic Barrow Hill Roundhouse, were completed earlier this year by Chesterfield Borough Council’s contractor Stepnell.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and vice-chair of Staveley Town Deal Board, said: “DRIIVe represents our ambition to be a leading destination for the rail industry – it will not only provide training and a base for businesses but also has the facilities needed to carry out cutting-edge research and development. We expect that having a facility like this will help attract businesses to the nearby East Midlands Industrial Zone site.

“DRIIVe will ensure that local people have access to training which will enable them to gain the right skills to access good quality by jobs created new businesses being attracted to the area.

“Partnership sits at the heart of DRIIVe and we want to continue working with businesses to ensure DRIIVe supports the sector, but we also want to use this facility to inspire the next generation of rail engineers. We are already developing a detailed outreach programme for local schools to achieve this. DRIIVe is an ambitious project, and I am confident it will be truly transformational for our borough.”

Ivan Fomin said: “It is fantastic to be able to open this new innovation centre – it represents everything we are trying to achieve through the Town Deal. We want Staveley to be a town where people can start, stay and grow. Providing training facilities but also space for business will help ensure that local people can develop the skills they need to build fantastic careers in the rail sector.”

Mervyn Allcock, general manager of Barrow Hill Ltd, said: “This is a fantastic new facility, and we’ve been receiving lots of interest from businesses who want to make use of this space. Barrow Hill has been at the centre of Chesterfield’s rail sector for over 150 years, and this development will help ensure we can continue that proud history and support the modern railway industry.”

Tom Sewell, director at Stepnell, said: “It’s fantastic to celebrate the completion of DRIIVe as it opens its doors to businesses, researchers and learners. Building on an established relationship with Chesterfield Borough Council from previous schemes, we had a clear understanding of the council’s ambitions for this project as part of the Staveley Town Deal.

“Through close engagement with the public we helped to create meaningful opportunities throughout the build, including employability support and targeted local spend with our trusted supply chain. DRIIVe is a first-class centre that will be a catalyst for innovation and growth in the rail industry, and we’re delighted to have played our part in bringing this specialist facility to life.”

Funding for the project is mostly being provided through the Staveley Town Deal – the Staveley area was one of 101 towns across England invited to submit an investment plan to the Government’s Towns Fund and received £25.2 million.