UKREiiF is a forum for unlocking investment and driving regeneration and development across the UK to accelerate economic growth.
Yorkshire is steadily preparing for the arrival of UKREiiF – ‘The UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum’ in May, as event organisers confirm over 12,000 official event delegates are expected to be in attendance which will have a £20m boost on the local economy.
Launching in 2022 UKREiiF has quickly become the UK’s leading platform for connecting investors and developers to national and local government, helping to bring projects forward to bring regeneration and development to towns and cities across the UK. Last year in 2023 the event welcomed 7,500 people to the city region, with a report by ARUP revealing the event has a £12.1m economic impact on the city – with 12,000 expected in 2024 that number is predicted to rise to £20m with some hotels, bars and restaurants set to have record breaking mid-week sales.
An international delegation from Asia will be attending alongside UK Government and the Department for Business and Trade, hosted in West Yorkshire throughout the week, whilst other attendees from New York, South Africa, Lille and Iceland will be in attendance to share knowledge and learnings between the UK and their international cities.
West Yorkshire Combined Authority Mayor Tracy Brabin said:
“The economic impact of UKREiiF directly benefits local people in our mission to build a stronger, brighter region” and the combined authority is looking to build on that success as a headline partner for the event in 2024.
The event provides a unique opportunity to engage with investors and developers – to help bring key projects forward in the region – with West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, North Yorkshire and East Yorkshire all having significant presence at the event alongside the likes of London, Belfast, Glasgow, Cornwall, Bristol, Manchester, Liverpool, Cardiff, Oxford and Cambridge. Success stories such as a recently announced £100m project in Torbay, unlocked by introductions made at UKREiiF, are helping the event go from strength to strength.
And with the event being hosted right here in Yorkshire, and investors and developers literally walking past opportunities, it’s set to provide a golden opportunity for the region. Support is already heavily confirmed by the cities and regions in Yorkshire, with many leaders and chief executives in attendance such as:
• Councillor Sir Stephen Houghton, Leader of Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council;
• Councillor Jane Scullion, Leader, Calderdale Council;
• Robin Tuddenham, Chief Executive, Calderdale Council;
• Lorraine O’Donnell, Chief Executive, City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council;
• Councillor Anne Handley, Leader, East Riding of Yorkshire Council;
• Councillor James Lewis, Leader, Leeds City Council;
• Tom Riordan, Chief Executive, Leeds City Council;
• Kate Josephs, Chief Executive, Sheffield City Council;
• Councillor Tom Hunt, Leader, Sheffield City Council;
• Mayor Oliver Coppard, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority;
• Mayor Tracy Brabin, West Yorkshire Combined Authority;
• Ben Still, Managing Director, West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
But the private sector is also coming out in force to promote the region and the opportunities within it.
Topics on the agenda will include the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust talking about the Innovation Arc that could deliver a £13bn economic boost, and Caddick Group discussing major schemes such as their new South Bank Village in Leeds, and their continued activity within the realms of industrial and logistics projects.
Whilst companies such as Harworth Group, Scarborough Group International, Muse, English Cities Fund, Strata, Get Living, Glenbrook and MEPC who are behind some of the most transformational investment and regeneration across the region in recent years will also be taking to the stage.
Speaking ahead of the event Nathan Spencer, Director at UKREiiF said:
“The impact of this year’s event is set to be transformational for not only Leeds, but the wider West Yorkshire region. The continued growth is now requiring the need to active hotels and hospitality in cities like Bradford, Wakefield and York, and the data on the longer term implications of UKREiiF are starting to show.
“Not only is there data to show projects such as the £100m Torbay project are coming forward, with another soon to be announced in the West Midlands, but early data collected during registration is showing that 1/3 people attending UKREiiF are now revisiting the city region more frequently over the following twelve months, with several highlighting new silo offices being opened in Leeds to build on their success from the event.
“I look forward to sharing more following the event, with another post-event economic output report set to be published by ARUP, and a Social Value report by The Pagabo Group which will highlight the social impact of the event to local communities.”
More details on the event can be found at www.ukreiif.com
