Overview
Derby’s economic landscape is characterised by a diverse mix of sectors, with a significant presence in professional, scientific, technical activities, and retail trade. The city boasts a total employment of 140,393, with a notable growth in several sectors. The data also reflects a healthy entrepreneurial ecosystem, indicated by the number of new companies and scaleups, and a balanced representation of gender among founders and directors.
Employment and Business Growth
- Total Employees: Derby has 140,393 employees, showing vibrant economic activity. Notably, there have been 105 companies reporting employee growth.
- Employee Growth: The employee growth percentage is 9.3%, indicating a robust increase in employment opportunities.
- Scaleups: The presence of 73 scaleups suggests a dynamic environment for business expansion and innovation.
Sector Dynamics
- Top Sectors: Key sectors in Derby include professional, scientific, and technical activities (2,368 companies), retail trade (2,316 companies), and construction (1,914 companies). These sectors are critical drivers of Derby’s economy.
- Sectors with Rising Companies: Sectors like analytics, machinery, leisure and entertainment, marketing services, and aerospace are showing promising growth.
Business Continuity
- Company Cessations: A total of 2,175 companies have ceased operations, indicating challenges in certain sectors or market conditions.
- New Companies in Last 2 Years: There are 2,822 new companies, highlighting a thriving entrepreneurial spirit and business creation in Derby.
- SMEs and Exporters: With 11,960 SMEs and 287 exporters, Derby demonstrates a strong base of small and medium-sized enterprises contributing to its economic diversity.
Entrepreneurial and Innovation Landscape
- Founders’ Gender: 19.81% of founders are female, 79.25% male, showing a gender gap in entrepreneurship.
- Directors’ Gender: Female directors constitute 26.98%, while male directors are at 67.88%. This indicates a need for greater gender balance in leadership roles.
- Young Companies with Young Directors: 1,062 companies led by young directors suggest a youthful and potentially innovative business culture.
Intellectual Property and Funding
- Patent Owners and Grantees: Derby has 9 patent owners and 12 grantees, reflecting some degree of innovation and research focus.
- Fundraisings: 240 instances of fundraising activities indicate active investment and funding opportunities.
Conclusion
Derby’s economy is characterised by a diverse sectoral presence, robust employment growth, and a strong base of SMEs. While there are challenges like company cessations and gender disparities in leadership, the city shows promising signs of entrepreneurship and innovation.