New events and lifestyle space opens with council support

A previously vacant city centre unit has been transformed into a vibrant hub for events and lifestyle products with grant support from Derby City Council.

Named The Agora, the historic building located at 30 Sadler Gate is the latest business to benefit from the council’s Vacant to Vibrant scheme, receiving £50,000 in grant funding to help bring the empty unit in the Cathedral Quarter back into use.

The Agora will offer a variety of opportunities for businesses, providing a permanent headquarters for an established leadership development business, working with clients in the UK and internationally.

The upper floors will be reserved for professional meetings, training and consultancy services, while the ground floor will offer a vibrant array of curated productivity and lifestyle items for sale, from journals, notebooks and planners to water bottles and more.

A studio is also available on-site for customers to design and hand-make their own journals, notebooks and planners.

The ground floor also features workspace facilities and a 100 sq metre events space available for hire outside of the traditional shop opening times.

Vacant to Vibrant is one of the several ways in which the UK Shared Prosperity Fund supports business initiatives in Derby.

The project supports the reactivation of empty units in the city centre.

Businesses that have benefited so far include The Tannery, Craftcore and Flo Skatepark.

Councillor Gurkiran Kaur, the city council’s cabinet member for city centre, culture and tourism, said: “The Agora offers something different for Derby, combining a business space and creative experiences with unique lifestyle products and journal-making within one building.

“Projects like this help to strengthen Derby city centre’s position as a vibrant city which provides the opportunities for businesses to expand, increase footfall, and create new opportunities for people to visit, work, and invest in.”