Responding to questions around potential job losses at Derby’s largest private sector employer, Rolls-Royce, Mr Jenrick, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, said that the Business Secretary and Chancellor of Exchequer were already in contact with the company to see how they might help.
He acknowledged the firm’s status as one of the UK’s most important advanced manufacturing companies and said, while he was concerned at reports of possible forthcoming redundancies, he was confident Rolls-Royce would have a strong future.
He also expressed a desire to work with the city on its wider recovery strategy.
City council leader Chris Poulter has now written to Mr Jenrick to ask for a meeting to outline Derby’s plans and set out areas where the Government can assist.
The Derby task force is concentrating on three phases of economic recovery:
- Restart – helping the city get back to work;
- Revival – helping to boost confidence and demand;
- Renewal – making strategic changes that will help produce a more resilient local economy and a more environmentally sustainable city.
Workstreams have been set up to consider business adaptation support, transport adaptation, sector-specific support networks, city centre transformation and demand stimulus.
Other members of the Derby Coronavirus Economic Recovery Task Force include St Peters Quarter Business Improvement District, Derby City Council, the University of Derby, Marketing Derby, Derby Renaissance Board, Intu, Rolls-Royce, Bombardier, Toyota and East Midlands Chamber.
