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Banks Mill Studios

Banks Mill Studios is an innovation space for creative and digital industries, located in a landmark building within the heart of Derby City Centre. 

Comprising of 38 clean and dirty studios and a ground floor gallery, Banks Mill offers stepped rents along with vital business support services and a connected community of peers to ensure success at all levels of enterprise growth. They have a diverse range of creative industry disciplines within Banks Mill – from jewellery makers to printmakers, computer games to fine artists. The tenants and members are both University of Derby students and graduates, and creative entrepreneurs not connected with the University.

Support Services

Banks Mill provides a nurturing and supportive environment for new creative businesses, increasing the potential for growth, success and sustainability. The vibrant creative community helps to build confidence and explore ideas and opportunities.

Support is available through the critical stages of start-up and growth, helping young businesses to flourish. This assistance is provided right from the beginning, when an idea is just the seed of something great and guides you through business planning, launch and expansion.

They provide:

Find out more by visiting our Banks Mill Studios website.

Banks Mill Showcase

View Banks Mill Showcase video transcript

Open Studios

Every year we host our Open Studios event to enable our artists, designers, makers and creative services businesses to display their unique designs. Take a look at the highlights from one of our Open Studios events.

Banks Mill Open Studios 2025

Find out more about our previous clients

A man in a dark jumper sat with his back to the camera on his sewing machine
Alexey Morozov

University of Derby graduate celebrates first year in business.

A lady holding her hands above her head in a prayer position with her eyes closed.
Aishwarya Deshpande - Move for Wellbeing

Move for Wellbeing is a psychotherapy service that uses dance and movement as a therapeutic medium for self- expression and offers movement therapy services in Derby.

A blonde lady wearing a burgundy apron, over a blue floral shirt
China Petals

Growing your business despite a Global Pandemic.

Young woman smiling at camera, wearing a sage green jumper and red, brick wall backdrop
Flomotion Limited

Specialists in sports apparel & wearable technology

Head and shoulders shot of Stevie Davies, artist and designer
Stevie Davies Glass

Stevie Davies is an artist and designer who works with glass, and she's spent the last six and a half years developing her business at our incubation unit, Banks Mill Studios.

A lady with thick curly hair and glasses, painting a ceramic stag.
Sunter Studio

Abbie Sunter is a ceramicist based at Banks Mill Studios in Derby who developed her business after graduating from the University of Derby in 2014 with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art.

Person presenting to audience with a microphone

Meet our Game Changers

Discover 124 ventures launched by our entrepreneurial students and graduates - from creative studios to tech start-ups.

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An industrial red brick mill building with large windows and a black sign that says 'Banks Mill Studios'

Meet our creative businesses

The Banks Mill community helps to build confidence and explore ideas and opportunities helping young businesses flourish.

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