MIPIM UK Talent

Leeds City Region showcases the changing needs of investors and occupiers at MIPIM UK

Building on the momentum of recent inward investments and expansion success by the likes of Burberry, Perform and Sky in the last 18 months, Leeds City Region is taking a message of people, confidence and opportunity to MIPIM UK, the UK’s largest annual property conference.

This week at MIPIM UK, a high profile panel of speakers from across the private and public sector came together to discuss the investment opportunities in Leeds City Region and the factors that affect decisions to invest in the City Region.

The ‘Who is investing in Leeds City Region? The changing makeup of investors and occupiers in Leeds City Region’ session focused on how our region is already capitalising on the trend for investors looking to the North by responding to a growing appetite for investment, bring forward new opportunities to market, and maximising a wave of talent either returning to or remaining in the region.

Commenting on the decision to open their first office outside of London, Andrew Jenkinson, Partner of international law firm Reed Smith said:

“Why Leeds? Why not Leeds? There’s a fantastic story to tell. It has the economic growth, job prospects, location, HS2, universities all the higher education establishments. We want to create the next generation of lawyers and so we are focusing on tech and digital transformation and Leeds reputation made it a very easy location choice for us.”

“Leeds is having its moment, there is a real passion and energy about the place.

“We’ve got the talent we were hoping to get.”

Nick Walkley CEO Homes England, commenting on their investment in the region said:

“Homes England will invest where places have ambition and where our partners invest.

“In Leeds City Region there is huge untapped potential in places outside London, great education, quality of life and transport connectivity that we are keen to explore.

“We are already investing in the City Region this year - including bringing forward York Central as an exemplar of modern living - and will do the same next year.”

Rick De Blaby, Chairman of Get Living, which plans to deliver 800 homes on a five acre site at Globe Road in Leeds South Bank, said:

“Leeds City Region it’s a very exciting place to be right now and Get Living couldn’t be more excited to be part of it.”

Roger Marsh OBE, Chair of Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) speaking of the huge skills potential and access to skills in the City Region said:

“With 10 universities, and around 40,000 graduates a year – we have a great opportunity to keep talent in the region. We don’t need to import it from elsewhere it’s already here.“

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Chair of West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Leader of Bradford Council discussed the place shaping activities happening across the region and said:

“Our role is to create the right environment to help business grow and prosper and we are shaping our places to ensure this happens.

“Leeds City Region’s presence at MIPIM is a public private partnership, majority funded by private sector sponsors which so far this year includes Carter Jonas, CEG, Extra, Fuse, Henry Boot Developments, Leeds Bradford Airport, Morgans, Munroe K, Parklane Group, Pegasus Group, Quod, Scarborough International Properties, Shulmans and Sweco.”