Collaboration takes centre stage as Greater Birmingham reveals exhibition events programme.

Greater Birmingham will unite to showcase the sheer scale of the region’s investment offer at next month’s global real estate show MIPIM (10th-13th March in Cannes, France) as part of its comprehensive events programme, launched today.

Designed to engage developers and companies looking to invest in the region, Greater Birmingham’s events schedule – comprising 11 events and 25 speakers across the four-day property exhibition – will focus on the opportunities presented by flagship schemes, including the Black Country Enterprise Zone and UK Central in Solihull.

Covering 120 hectares at the heart of the West Midlands’ advanced manufacturing and distribution networks, the Black Country Enterprise Zone is considered to be the most successful of its kind in the UK, with investments in excess of £1.5 billion from global names including Jaguar Land Rover and Moog. Together with the Birmingham City Centre Enterprise Zone, it has attracted over a quarter – a total of 3,200 – of the 12,530 jobs created since 2012 by the government’s 24 enterprise zones based nationwide.

At MIPIM, speakers including Andy Street, Chair of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP; Tom Westley, Black Country LEP lead for the Enterprise Zone; and Rob Groves, Senior Project Director at property developer Argent will highlight the impact of the West Midlands’ Enterprise Zones on the UK economy, as well as plans to accelerate their growth.

Tom Westley, lead on the Black Country Enterprise Zone, said: “The Black Country has a unique history of driving innovation forward, we are leading the way through world-class manufacturing and engineering and are seeing record levels of private sector investment.

“The Black Country Enterprise Zone, described as the most successful in the UK, has seen unprecedented growth through a public and private sector partnership approach and we want to talk to potential investors about how they can be part of this success. MIPIM creates a fantastic opportunity to showcase how collectively the West Midlands’ Enterprise Zones are creating thousands of jobs, attracting significant investment and driving the economy forward.”

Based in Solihull, UK Central is regarded as one of the largest and most exciting schemes in Europe, combining business, transport and entertainment assets with the area’s reputation as one of the most attractive places to live in the country.

At MIPIM, delegates will learn of the huge opportunities that the site presents to investors. Speakers at Greater Birmingham’s UK Central event include Councillor Ian Courts, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Development & Land at Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council; Nick Page, Chief Executive at Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council; Andy Street; and Steven Myers, Managing Director of Development at Genting.

Councillor Ian Courts said: “UK Central offers an outstanding combination of opportunity, connectivity and lifestyle attracting growing interest from global investors. 2015 will see major milestones in its development – the opening of Resorts World Birmingham; the launch of the new Jaguar XE following Jaguar Land Rover’s £1.5bn investment in Europe’s largest aluminium bodyshop; and Rolls Royce opening the new HQ, design and technology facility for its Controls and Data Services subsidiary on Birmingham Business Park.

“We will be sharing key elements of our emerging masterplan for the HS2 Interchange site linked to Birmingham Airport at MIPIM, as well as highlighting the major opportunities for investors over the next 10 years.”

The Greater Birmingham team will also join forces with Greater London and Coventry at two events promoting the benefits of the new HS2 high speed rail network to the UK’s economic prosperity and connectivity. Speakers include Sir Michael Bear, Chairman of the UKTI’s Regeneration Investment Organisation.

Sir Albert Bore, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “Collaboration is at the heart of Greater Birmingham’s transformation into one of the top international business destinations. By joining forces with our partners in Solihull and the Black Country – together with a host of private sector organisations – we will be demonstrating to MIPIM delegates that we have the momentum and ambition to remain the country’s strongest region for inward investment.

“From the opportunities on offer at Birmingham’s huge Southern Gateway development to the major regeneration of the city’s retail core, our events programme at this year’s MIPIM will bring together a number of prominent speakers to showcase the unprecedented scale of investment taking place in the region.”

Talking about the region’s future plans, Sir Edward Lister, Deputy Mayor of London for Planning, said: “HS2 is perhaps the country’s most important regeneration scheme, acting as a catalyst for growth and economic prosperity the entire length of its route. The best way to take full advantage of this unique opportunity is by working together and we look forward to collaborating with Greater Birmingham to secure the best deal possible.”