Pre-MIPIM round-up: East Midlands on show
At MIPIM 2017 Derby will be a hosting several key business events on a range of topics including: city centre regeneration, advanced manufacturing and Enterprise Zones.
Derby’s full schedule of events will take place between Tuesday 14 to Wednesday 15 March, and will include the award-winning Derby City Embassy.
John Forkin, managing director of Marketing Derby, said: “It’s a great pleasure to unveil Derby’s calendar of events.
“The comprehensive programme reflects Derby’s ambitions for growth and its expertise in advanced manufacturing and engineering.
“I look forward to working together with representatives from the private and public sectors, as we present Derby on the global stage.”
Nottingham is set to take centre stage at MIPIM, with the city’s delegation involved with series of events in the new Midlands Pavilion.
Midlands UK, the Midlands-wide delegation attending MIPIM 2017, has revealed the events programme it is hosting at the global real estate show – with a significant number featuring members of the Team Nottingham delegation.
Major investment projects will be unveiled to an international audience, while discussion panels and presentations will cover topics including connectivity, housing and regeneration.
Over 50 events – featuring nearly 100 presenters and panellists – are taking place at the Midlands UK Pavilion, more than any other delegation from the UK. Combined, these events are expected to attract thousands of delegates.
The launch of the Midlands Engine Investment Portfolio on Tuesday 14 March will feature Sir John Peace, chair of the Midlands Engine. Capitalising on the region’s strong record of attracting foreign investment, the event will present the international community with billions of pounds’ worth of the region’s most exciting range of development opportunities.
Lorraine Baggs, head of inward investment at Invest in Nottingham, said: “The Midlands Pavilion will include a packed programme of events and Nottingham is delighted to be playing a leading role and significantly contributing to many of the presentations and panel discussions throughout the week.
“We will be presenting Nottingham’s approach to bringing forward regeneration projects, discussing how to fund development, showcasing the second phase of development at East Midlands Airport and key opportunities within the Boots Enterprise Zone. Other discussion topics involving Team Nottingham include the growth of the digital and life science economies, the impact of HS2 and smart cities and many more
“This is a great example of how being an integral part of the Midlands Pavilion this year will allow us to make more of an impact as a city and ultimately secure more investment opportunities.”
A Nottingham business and logistics park will be one of the opportunities being showcased by developer Sladen Estates at MIPIM.
Summit Park, located adjacent to the Mansfield/Ashfield relief route, is one of the region’s key sites offering industrial, office, logistics, leisure and roadside uses over 45 acres and will be on display to attendees at this year’s expo (14-17 Mar).
Chief executive Nick Sladen, said: “Summit Park offers a prime location for businesses, with some 20,000 vehicles passing the site each day thanks to its prominent position fronting the A617 between the towns of Ashfield and Mansfield, which is widely considered to be Nottinghamshire’s manufacturing heartland.
“This area of Nottinghamshire is a very popular location for industrial and logistics use thanks to its excellent transport links to the rest of the UK, access to relatively low rents, rates and wages – with a substantial multi-skilled workforce on the doorstep.
“It is great opportunity for potential occupiers looking at this area and we are really looking forward to speaking to people about Summit Park at MIPIM.”
Units available will range in size from 20,000 to 600,000 sq ft depending on occupier requirement.
Sladen added: “Summit Park is designed to serve all types of business, from small local firms and larger manufacturers right up to national logistics providers seeking a hub in the North East Midlands.”
The mainstay of Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership’s (LLEP) efforts this year at MIPIM will be pushing its Enterprise Zone sites. The team is heading out to raise the profile of the sites – and will be using representatives as speakers at its events to push the opportunities.
Nick Pulley, chair of the LLEP, said: “Our focus will be on our two Enterprise Zones – MIRA Technology Park and the Loughborough and Leicester Enterprise Zone – which is multi-sited and covers Waterside and Pioneer Park, Loughborough University and Charnwood Campus.
“We see our Enterprise Zones as major opportunities for our city and region. Leicestershire is already at the cutting edge of innovative research, innovation and product development – brought about particularly through our three first-rate universities (Loughborough, Leicester and DeMontfort) and the Enterprise Zones will help to cement Leicestershire’s role as the research and development capital of the Midlands.
“There is already an extremely successful enterprise model at MIRA Technology Park and we intend to replicate this at the Loughborough and Leicester Enterprise Zone, but in the science, innovation and hi-tech manufacturing sectors. This EZ is expected to create more than 6,500 jobs, and will allow the expansion of more than 120 companies on site and see around 900 new homes built.”
