Comment: Joseph making strides with private sector support
THE first signs that Leeds and Partners chief executive Lurene Joseph is making her mark have come with increased private sector support for international property conference MIPIM, says Ian Briggs.
MEETING Lurene Joseph to conduct an interview and write a report for TheBusinessDesk.com last month, it was immediately apparent that here is a lady with a clear vision.
Coupled with that vision – namely to ensure her organisation works more closely with the public and private sectors – was a determination to carry it out rather than talk a good game and not deliver.
And the point of this strategy? To ensure Leeds and the wider city region attracts the inward investment it deserves to maintain its position as a leading destination and place to do business.
But any strategy such as this requires the buy-in of those you’re ultimately trying to help.
Evidence that this is happening came yesterday as Leeds and Partners – formerly known as Marketing Leeds – announced it was to lead a delegation to MIPIM, the international property conference held each year in Cannes, France.
What’s so special about that, you may ask, as Marketing Leeds has exhibited at the event for the past few years.
The difference this time is that Leeds and Partners has already gained the backing of private sector players including Town Centre Securities, Land Securities and Hammerson – three developers with major assets in the City Region.
Consultants GVA and Arup have also signed up to be part of the city region’s presence at MIPIM which regularly attracts around 25,000 delegates.
I know for at least one of the above, supporting the Leeds City Region delegation is a volte-face from last year when the organisation travelled as part of another destination’s delegation because of ongoing frustrations with the way things were being handled.
In recent years the private sector in Leeds has largely shunned MIPIM, viewing it as an unwarranted expense and more of a jolly than a serious investment opportunity.
So Ms Joseph (pictured right) has to be applauded for getting this far. She has spent the first few months of her tenure meeting the City Region’s big hitters and persuading them her plans for the organisation will be beneficial to business.
The task now is to deliver the right messages at MIPIM that attract developers into the region.
And with schemes such as Trinity Leeds and Leeds Arena set to open next year, and major plans for the enterprise zone, there has never been a better time to make the most of the opportunities.
