Derby Cathedral Quarter Chair Honoured in Queen’s Birthday List

Derby Cathedral Quarter Chair Honoured in Queen’s Birthday List

Chartered surveyor Martin Langsdale, who is the long-standing chair of Derby Cathedral Quarter Business Improvement District (BID), has been awarded an MBE for his contribution to the city’s economy in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Martin was one of the local business people who worked together to launch the Cathedral Quarter BID in 2008 – creating a brand and identity and working to promote, improve and attract investment into the area.

He initially served as chair of the BID management group and was then voted in as Board chair in 2012 which are both voluntary and unpaid roles.

Under his stewardship the Cathedral Quarter BID has gone from strength to strength and is often held up as being a leader in its field. In 2016, the BID won both the ‘Best City Location’ at the Great British High Street awards and ‘BID of the Year’ at the Association of Town & City Management (ATCM) awards whilst in 2018 it was also awarded runners-up in the ‘Partnership of the Year’ and ‘Best Event’ categories at the ATCM awards.

Martin has worked in commercial property for 38 years – starting his career as a trainee in Nottingham and then working in Leicester before moving to Derby in 1992.  He is now a chartered surveyor with leading Derby firm Raybould & Son and lives in Chellaston with his wife and son.

He said: “I am obviously delighted to have been recognised with an MBE and have accepted the honour on behalf of everyone who has worked so hard over the years to support, promote and improve the Cathedral Quarter.

“We have faced many challenges together from deep recession to now the on-going pandemic but have proved that, by working together with a common purpose, we can achieve great things for the benefit of everyone who work, live and visit the Cathedral Quarter.

“I have always been passionate that the Cathedral Quarter is a business address that carries kudos and value and proud that we continue to attract and retain a whole host of award-winning businesses and market leaders in their fields including professional services, retailers, leisure, hospitality and cultural businesses and organisations.

“I hope that this honour will remind us all the journey that the Cathedral Quarter has travelled and that we must remain optimistic about the future of this iconic area.”