DRIIVe opens to strengthen Chesterfield’s rail sector
A £6 million investment has transformed Barrow Hill into a hub for rail innovation, with the opening of the Derbyshire Rail Industry Innovation Vehicle (DRIIVe).
The state-of-the-art centre offers modern classrooms and training areas, specialist research and development facilities, including a digital laboratory, alongside high-quality commercial workshop space for rail businesses, researchers and learners.
Developed by Chesterfield Borough Council in collaboration with Barrow Hill Engine Shed Society, DRIIVe was officially opened by Ivan Fomin, Independent Business Chair of the Staveley Town Deal Board. The majority of the project has been funded through the Government-backed Staveley Town Deal, with additional funding provided by the East Midlands Combined County Authority and Chesterfield Borough Council.
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.”
Managed by Barrow Hill Ltd, DRIIVe will provide education and training from Level Two through to postgraduate research while offering specialist facilities for rail businesses to develop new technologies and grow within the sector.
Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and Vice-Chair of the 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 jobs created by 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.”
The centre is expected to support businesses across the rail supply chain while helping develop the skilled workforce needed for future industry growth.
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.”
Discover more about the Staveley Town Deal projects transforming the area by visiting: www.chesterfield.co.uk/developments/staveley/staveley-town-deal-projects/
