Business

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Derbyshire Dales is one of Britain's most scenic areas. It includes much of the Peak District National Park and yet is situated within two hours drive of almost half the UK population.

This central location, superb environment and quality of life is attracting forward-looking small businesses which value all that the area can offer.

Statistics concerning the Derbyshire Dales

We have a population of 69,800 and the district covers an area of 307 square miles.

Main Towns (population)

  • Matlock 10,500
  • Ashbourne 7,500
  • Wirksworth 5,500
  • Darley Dale 5,000
  • Bakewell 4,500

Derbyshire Dales is a rural area with more than 100 villages.

Main employment sectors

  • Public services
  • Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
  • Creative industries
  • Tourism
  • Manufacturing
  • Quarrying
  • Agriculture

There are more than 2,600 businesses in the area.

Major local employers

  • Moy Park (Ashbourne) Ltd
  • John Smedley
  • Firth Rixson Forging Ltd
  • HJ Enthoven Ltd
  • Nenplas Co. Ltd
  • Derbyshire County Council

Distances (miles) from Matlock

  • 10 Chesterfield
  • 18 Derby
  • 19 Sheffield
  • 25 Nottingham
  • 35 Manchester
  • 35 Stoke-on-Trent
  • 10 M1 (junction 28)
  • 40 M6 (junction 19)
  • 33 East Midlands Airport
  • 40 Manchester Airport

There is a rail service between Matlock and Derby and in the Hope Valley between Manchester and Sheffield.

More than five million tourists visit the area each year.

What Derbyshire Dales can offer your business

We are one of Britain's premier scenic areas with more than half of the district in the Peak District National Park

A central location

  • 3.5m people live within 30 miles of the heart of the Derbyshire Dales
  • The motorway network is within easy reach
  • There are three airports within a travel time of one hour
  • Rail services connect the district to Manchester, Derby, Nottingham and London

A special business environment

  • A clean and green image
  • The perfect living and working environment
  • Combines rural location with easy access to conurbations
  • Ideally suited to modern technology and environmentally aware business

A multi-skilled local workforce

  • A district labour force of 31,000
  • Top quality secondary schools
  • A wide range of industrial and commercial activities, modern and traditional

Development opportunities

  • Sites for small to medium sized business
  • Market town centre retail and office premises

Training and business support services

  • Derbyshire Business Link offers quality business advice
  • Management and staff training can be arranged through the Learning and Skills Council

For more detailed information on the advantages of the Derbyshire Dales as a business base and for business support and advice that we can offer please contact the economic development section.

 

Contact us

Economic Development
Town Hall
Bank Road
Matlock
Derbyshire
DE4 3NN

Phn: 01629 761 230
Email: economicdevelopment@derbyshiredales.gov.uk