Region set to showcase its potential at global property show.
Some 100 partners across the Midlands region – comprising senior leaders from business, the public sector and academia – have joined the Midlands UK delegation attending MIPIM 2019 at Cannes, from 12th-15th March. This will be the largest ever delegation from the Midlands to take part in the global property show.
Public sector representatives including a team from Birmingham will be joined by 78 organisations from a range of sectors.
The Midlands will be showcased as a globally competitive investment destination at MIPIM, which attracts more than 26,000 delegates from 100 different countries. Attendees represent major investors, financial institutions, developers, the property industry and the media.
During the event Sir John Peace, Chair of the Midlands Engine, will launch a new film about the Midlands as part of a new campaign called ‘The Midlands Engine is here’. The initiative aims to build momentum behind the region’s growth ambitions, and highlight its inward investment opportunities. The latest Midlands Engine Investment Prospectus will also be launched at MIPIM.
Sir John Peace commented: “We want to demonstrate to the global investment community that the Midlands is connected and energised. There is a wave of innovative work underway across all parts of the region, which will attract investment, improve our infrastructure and deliver job opportunities.
“By bringing our private and public sector partners to MIPIM, we become a team that collectively tells the unique story of this region to an international audience. This will enable us to deliver on our aims – to grow trade and investment, increase innovation and enterprise, and promote the Midlands as a great place to live, visit, learn and work.”
Birmingham will be showcasing its ‘once in a generation’ Smithfield scheme. The recent announcement of Lendlease as preferred development partner for the scheme is a sign of how the city is repositioning itself on the international stage.
Richard Cowell, Assistant Director of Development at Birmingham City Council, and Bek Seeley, Commercial Director at Lendlease, will be presenting at the ‘Birmingham’s Southern Gateway’ event on Wednesday 13th March in the Midlands UK Pavilion (stand C16.D).
Jonathan Emery, Managing Director Property, Europe, Lendlease, added: “We are proud to support the Midlands at MIPIM 2019. The region is going from strength to strength and Lendlease is playing a significant role in the transformation of Birmingham as development partner to Birmingham City Council for the £1.5 billion Smithfield redevelopment and in the construction of 4,000 new homes at Perry Barr. We hope to engage with many stakeholders throughout the event and to build on our relationships with our existing partners in the Midlands.”
The Midlands UK Pavilion will host a range of presentations and meetings with investors that will showcase its major schemes. Other key projects include Space Park Leicester, a global hub for space and space-enabled technologies; the £100 million regeneration of Derby city centre; the UK Central Solihull Hub; and DY5, Dudley’s Business and Innovation Enterprise Zone. They will be promoted alongside the Lincoln Eastern Bypass and Western Growth Corridor, and Shropshire’s ‘The Big Connection’ – which offers a vision for regeneration and new development schemes.
Key private sector partners attending MIPIM as part of the Midlands UK delegation include Birmingham Airport, Court Collaboration, Jaguar Land Rover, Lendlease and St Joseph.