Inward investment agency, Invest Newcastle, will lead the first ever North East delegation to the UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) next week.
Taking place in Leeds on 17-19 May, Invest Newcastle who are part of NewcastleGateshead Initiative and who are a key partner of the North of Tyne Combined Authority, will be joined by 25 sponsors and almost 100 regional delegates, the third biggest delegation from a single region at UKREiiF.
The event will bring together more than 4,000 delegates from core cities and regions from across the UK alongside ministers, MP’s, investors, funders, developers, occupiers and key decision makers. A breakfast event was held earlier this week, at the new headquarters of Gateshead-based Aspire Technology Solutions, where the full events programme was revealed, and sponsors gathered to hear about final plans.
Sponsors and supporters who will be championing the North East region include, Newcastle City Council, the North of Tyne Combined Authority (NTCA), Gateshead Council, Newcastle University, Womble Bond Dickinson, Bloom, Hanro, Naylors Gavin Black, Northern Railway, Pegasus Group, Ryder, Monstarlab, GSS Architecture, One St James’, Knight Frank, Cundall, Geek Talent, CGI, Faulkner Browns, Avison Young, The Biosphere, Aspire, Arup, Newcastle College and Port of Tyne.
This three-day event will connect people, places and businesses to accelerate the Levelling Up Agenda, whilst unlocking sustainable, inclusive and transformational investment across the UK. It will provide a platform for the public sector to showcase the scale of development progress and to profile future investment opportunities to investors, developers and occupiers. Newcastle has been shortlisted for Net Zero Place of the Year at the UKREiiF awards , which recognises the UK’s leading towns, cities or regions that are leading the way in addressing and tackling the climate crisis.
Invest Newcastle will be hosting a range of events to showcase the region’s offer to investors, developers, and decision markers. Events include a panel that will shine a light on three transformational projects, including the £300m investment into Newcastle United Football Club, a £358m investment in ‘The Sage’ an international venue for world class business and entertainment and £25m investment from the BBC over the next five years. The event will discuss their role in the region’s future and other opportunities that exist in the region.
Newcastle University will also host a panel that will present the ambitious plans for a new 29-acre development built on the former general hospital site and their vision for it to become the world’s premier centre for healthy ageing and living. On the final day of UKREiiF, a lunchtime fringe event will promote the opportunities that exist in the heart of Newcastle’s vibrant and dynamic life science eco-system.
Pam Smith, Chief Executive, Newcastle City Council, said: “The North East presence at UKREiiF is a true statement of the collaborative spirit of Newcastle and the wider region. Each member of the delegation is an ambassador, playing a vital role in profiling our city on a regional, national, and international stage. This three-day event is crucial to supporting and sustaining the social and economic ambitions of our region, and I’m looking forward to joining the delegation alongside all other UK regions.”
Jen Hartley, Director, Invest Newcastle, said: “We are really looking forward to leading a delegation of sponsors to UKREiiF and not only showcasing the sector strengths and investment opportunities across the North East but being part of the first event which will be sure to become a staple in the annual calendar of investors, UK cities and MP’s alike. This is a fantastic example of what can be achieved by the public and private sector collaborating. Our events programme will see thought leaders from the North East join and lead important conversations and discussions and will give an insight into the depth and value of the expertise and opportunity we have here in the region.”
Across the main UKREiiF events programme as well as other fringe events, the North East’s voice is well represented with key thought leaders sitting on panels which will explore key themes on the Levelling Up Agenda, sustainability and inclusivity. This includes participation in the following:
- Levelling Up – Leaving No Place Behind, including Mayor Jamie Driscoll speaking alongside other city-region mayors
- Life Sciences Investment Opportunities, a session run by the Department for International Trade, including Jen Hartley, Director of Invest Newcastle
- Harnessing Partnership and Collaboration for Strategic Investment with Jen Hartley, Director of Invest Newcastle
- Roundtable Discussion: Core Cities Strategic Investment Opportunities in the UK’s Biggest Cities with Pam Smith, Chief Executive of Newcastle City Council
- What will leisure and retail development look like in 2030 with Michelle Percy, Director of Place at Newcastle City Council
- Regeneration and the Boomer Generation: tackling the crisis in later living with Professor Lynne Corner, Co-founder and Director of VOICE and Chief Operating Officer, UK’s National Innovation Centre for Ageing
- Combined Authorities: How can they drive forward levelling-up? With Henry Kippin, Managing Director, North of Tyne Combined Authority.
Newcastle University were one of the first sponsors to join the Invest Newcastle delegation.
Jane Robinson, Pro Vice Chancellor, Newcastle University, said: “UKREiiF is a unique opportunity to be able to speak to a critical audience all in one place. We are using the event to profile our latest plans for the Campus for Ageing and Vitality, which is a new 29-acre development built on a former hospital site. It will build on our world-leading research to develop innovative solutions for living, leisure, learning and employment as we grow older. As a leading academic institution within the North East, we are committed to working with our partners to support social and economic benefit for all. We are proud to be part of the regional delegation to UKREiiF to help showcase the full potential of Newcastle and the wider area.”
See here for the full events programme and to sign up to attend.