Derbyshire renews support for quarrying and minerals industry

Positive sign: Deputy Leader of Derbyshire County Council Councillor Rob Reaney, left, and Helen Bailey, Deputy Chair of the Institute of Quarrying, sign a Memorandum of Understanding.

Leading figures from the mineral products industry joined with Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Members on Friday (30 January 2026) to renew a commitment to work together for the benefit of both the industry and the county.

As one of the UK’s largest producers of minerals, the Derbyshire minerals industry plays a key role in the county’s economy, and senior representatives from the county council joined key industry delegates at the National Stone Centre in Wirksworth to sign a Memorandum of Understanding.

The agreement sets out a shared commitment to focus on:

• improving efficiency within the industry locally
• increasing the benefit of the minerals industry to the Derbyshire economy and its residents
• improving the transport infrastructure on which the sector relies to make it easier for the minerals to be transported around the country, and reduce the impact this transportation has on the county’s roads and other travellers
• supporting the continued development of the National Stone Centre project, which aims to turn it into a world class visitor centre and hub for skills within the mineral products industry
• Working with partners to develop training courses that support local residents wishing to work in the quarrying industry
• Supporting the sector in Derbyshire to thrive by working together to lobby, explore funding opportunities and seek to show the importance of the sector to the county and the wider economy.

Councillor Rob Reaney, Deputy Leader of Derbyshire County Council and Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration, said: “Derbyshire’s quarrying industry is hugely important both on a local and national level.

“The industry is worth £2.5bn to the local economy and employs around 2,000 people locally. It provides 85% of the country’s limestone, as well as 10 million tonnes of aggregates and other mineral products. Minerals are also key to the day to day working of so many other industries and projects in our country.

“This was a great opportunity to meet with key industry figures to find out more about mineral and aggregate production in Derbyshire, how they see the industry developing in the future and what we and other organisations can do to help support it.

“We look forward to working with the industry in the future to help support local jobs and the contribution it makes to our economy in Derbyshire and beyond.”

Helen Bailey, Deputy Chair of the Institute of Quarrying, said: “Derbyshire’s minerals are essential to the UK’s economy and infrastructure ambitions. Strong collaboration between industry and the council is critical to realising shared, long-term value.

“As the sector evolves, investment in skills, innovation and evidence-led decision-making will be vital. The continued development of the National Stone Centre provides a unique opportunity to create a national hub for learning, collaboration and future-focused thinking, supporting local communities while strengthening the resilience and sustainability of the minerals industry both regionally and nationally.”

A round table discussion was held, identifying key issues for the industry.

The first was roads and transport issues and comments from industry representatives will be fed into the East Midlands Combined County Authority’s (EMCCA) transport consultation.

EMCCA is carrying out this consultation to shape the Mayor’s Transport Plan which will set out how they will support the development of roads and transport infrastructure across the region.

The second discussion was about the National Stone Centre to gain the industry’s views on how it could be turned into a skills hub for the industry and where the industry feels the skills gaps are.

Industry representatives also gave an update on the Peak Cluster’s proposals for developing the industry in the future.