Midlands businesses encouraged to grasp multi-billion-pound investment opportunities at MIPIM 2020

Businesses across the Midlands are being encouraged to take part in the Midlands UK delegation at this year’s MIPIM (Cannes, 10-13 March 2020), the world’s largest property event.

Billions-of-pounds’ worth of investment is agreed each year at the international property and real estate show, with major regional projects such as Nottingham’s £2 billion Southside project, the City of Wolverhampton’s £185 million Brewers Yard development and Lincolnshire’s £80 million Grantham Southern Relief Road tracing their origins back to the event.

For the fourth year in a row, the Midlands UK delegation will bring together the region’s public and private sector leaders to showcase their most important regeneration and development schemes. This presence at MIPIM aims to grow the Midlands’ reputation as a globally competitive investment destination.

MIPIM provides the opportunity to profile businesses and projects, strengthen networks and share knowledge with industry peers. The show is the world’s largest real estate event, bringing together a global audience of more than 26,000 delegates from key markets such as the USA, Middle East and Western Europe.

Sir John Peace, Chair of the Midlands Engine, said:

“MIPIM offers an unrivalled opportunity for the private and public sectors to join forces and showcase our multitude of major developments and schemes to an international audience.

“The Midlands powers the UK economy, as a hotbed of talent, innovation and enterprise. Showcasing its strengths at MIPIM will help us to attract more global investment – helping to regenerate the region, create new jobs and deliver inclusive growth.”

To date, major businesses including platinum partners Birmingham Airport and St Joseph have signed up to join the Midlands UK delegation for MIPIM 2020. Others include Bruntwood, Lovell Partnership and Arup.

Tony Pidgley CBE, Chairman of St Joseph, a Berkeley Group company, said:

“The Midlands is a fantastic place to invest, with strong leaders, a clear vision for the future and ambitious regeneration programmes well underway.

“We are proud to be part of this growth story and to be working in partnership to create the new homes and opportunities local communities need.”

In 2019, £11 billion of major development schemes were presented at the Midlands UK Pavilion to potential investors, partners, clients and suppliers. A busy event programme, comprising 43 events and 97 speakers, also highlighted the region’s most significant investment opportunities.

Conversations and meetings between industry and public sector leaders at MIPIM have led to a number of projects starting across the Midlands including:

  • Nottingham’s £2 billion Southside project, which has resulted in the largest number of cranes in the city centre for a generation and almost 4,000 new jobs during the first phase of the project;
  • The City of Wolverhampton’s £185 million Brewers Yard development, which will generate £250 million Gross Development Value by creating 1,200 houses and apartments, plus 60,000 sq ft of new retail and commercial space;
  • Lincolnshire’s £80 million Grantham Southern Relief Road, which will unlock £1 billion of sustainable growth by improving connectivity and journey times, whilst securing significant housing and employment opportunities for Lincolnshire

Lorraine Baggs, Head of Inward Investment at Invest in Nottingham, said:

“MIPIM offers us a great platform to showcase investment opportunities to thousands of potential investors from around the globe.

“Nottingham is midway through one of the largest city centre regeneration programmes of any UK city, which has had a catalytic effect on driving further interest and investment into the area.

“MIPIM allows Nottingham to collectively target specific individuals and companies and being part of the wider Midlands delegation brings increased scale and profile allowing us to collectively take our place on the global stage.”