Greater Manchester Mayor to champion levelling up opportunities at inaugural UK property conference

Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, his counterpart in the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, and colleagues from both cities, will champion the opportunities the levelling up agenda presents to the property sector at a new UK-based conference, The UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF).

UKREiiF will take place for the first time in Leeds from 17th to 19th May to connect people, places and businesses in order to accelerate the levelling up agenda and unlock sustainable, inclusive and transformational investment.

Andy Burnham will be joined as a keynote speaker for the event by Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council as well a number of national colleagues, including:

• Lord Grimstone, Minister for Investment at the Department for International Trade
• Baroness Vere, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Transport
• John Flint, Chief Executive at UK Infrastructure Bank
• Bridget Rosewell, Commissioner at the National Infrastructure Commission

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:

“Despite an incredibly challenging couple of years, Greater Manchester has come out of the pandemic with more ambition and energy than ever before. Our sights are set on a swift recovery that includes everyone.

“UKREiiF marks an important first step for Greater Manchester as it puts itself back out on the national and international stage. We’re a city-region that is open for business, open to innovation, and open to partnership.”

Eamonn Boylan, Chief Executive of Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), said:

“Greater Manchester will exhibit at UKREiiF to profile the city-region’s investment opportunities to both national and international investors, developers and occupiers.

“We will be sharing a platform with our partners at Liverpool City Region and our joint programme will tackle key themes that are important to both regions, including Levelling Up, the journey to Net Zero, and inclusive growth.”

The inaugural property conference is being sponsored by the Department for International Trade and Government Property Function, signifying that UKREiiF is already seen as a key industry event by ministers and officials working at the heart of the UK Government. Private sector partners include JLL, the UK Business Council for Sustainable Development and MX Insurance.

UKREiiF’s organisers are confident that the event will see more than 5,000 in person attendees, over 250 speakers across 14 stages, in excess of 100 exhibitors and at least 50 fringe events.