Member Article

'An opportunity the North East cannot afford to miss': Invest North East England heads to MIPIM

Seven North East local authorities, bolstered by private sector partners, are heading the charge to attract increased investment into the region.

Invest North East England, combining Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland councils, and a number of North East-based private sector property professionals, will represent the region at MIPIM UK, an event that attracts potential investors from around the world.

MIPIM UK (Le marché international des professionnels de l’immobilier) provides an opportunity to showcase key regional development sites and investment opportunities and it is only the second event of its kind to take place on UK shores.

The event was first held in October 2014 at Olympia, London, gathering a wide range of professionals looking to close deals in the UK property market including investors, developers, local authorities, occupiers, hotel groups, agents and business service providers. 4,000 participants and 575 investors from 35 cities attended.

The event also provides a forum for investors and developers to meet, discuss projects and close deals. Running in Cannes since 1991, MIPIM is attended by representatives from some of the most influential international property players from all sectors.

Guy Currey, investment gateway manager for Invest North East England, said: “MIPIM is regarded as an essential event in the calendar of developers, investors, corporate end-users and other property players and therefore, it is an opportunity the North East cannot afford to miss.

“Our region has much to offer investors. Confidence is returning to the market and we boast a strong proposition with a wide range of exciting opportunities. I am confident that, if we want to be taken seriously as an area in which developers should be investing, attending MIPIM, promoting and showcasing the North East to the world is absolutely the right thing to do.”

Simon Henig, chair of the North East Combined Authority, said: “Attending MIPIM UK is hugely important for us as a region - we need to make sure that we demonstrate to investors from the UK and overseas that we are serious about attracting inward investment in this part of the world.

“The event is a genuine opportunity to attract significant investment for the North East and to share with an influential – and potentially game-changing – audience all that our region has to offer.”

UK Trade and Investment figures show that the North East LEP area recorded a total of 44 successful Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects in 2014/15, accounting for 3,105 new and 166 safeguarded jobs. This puts the region as the second most successful area for FDI in terms of jobs created last year.

The event takes place between Wednesday, October 21 and Friday, October 23 in London’s Olympia, and more than 4,000 delegates are expected to attend. More than 60 local and public authorities are exhibiting at MIPIM, including the likes of London, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and Glasgow, areas that will also be making a play to attract interest from investors.