Branson opens new university site

Sir Richard arrived in an open-topped racing car

Business tycoon Sir Richard Branson has opened a £21m arts, design and technology centre at the University of Derby.

During the ceremony he praised the city as a centre of engineering excellence.

He turned up in a red open-topped racing car to be met by two Virgin Atlantic air hostesses.

Sir Richard, whose business empire has many links with Derby companies like Rolls Royce and Bombardier, went on to meet university students.

Innovators needed

The new Markeaton Street site will serve 3,000 students.

He said: "We need innovators and engineers and designers. We do a lot with Rolls Royce, our planes are mainly powered by Rolls Royce engines.

"Our trains are built by Bombardier and they've got a big presence up here.

"And hopefully our spaceships one day will also get engineers and technicians and designers from this university."