South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard has announced a regional launch event ahead of UKREiiF 2024.
The UK Real Estate, Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) connects people, places and businesses to accelerate and unlock inclusive, sustainable and transformational investment.
The third annual UKREiiF will be held in Leeds from 21st-23rd May 2024 and will bring together the public sector, with every core UK city and region involved – alongside Government, investors, funders, developers, housebuilders and more.
The Mayor will be attending this year alongside Barnsley Council, the City of Doncaster Council, Rotherham Council and Sheffield City Council with an aim to attract inward investment, generate economic growth and drive a more sustainable and inclusive culture within the property and construction industries across South Yorkshire.
Ahead of UKREiiF, South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard will hold a regional launch event on Wednesday 6th March.
The event, held at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham from 8.30am, will showcase how the region will be represented at the event this year.
The Mayor will give a welcome speech and introduce the event before an overview is given of South Yorkshire’s representation at UKREiiF this year.
Tariq Shah OBE, Chief Executive of Doncaster-based Vigo Group and Co-Chair of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority's Business Advisory Board will also be giving an overview of how businesses across South Yorkshire can support UKREiiF and the importance of taking a regional collaborative approach to inward investment.
South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “My job is growth.
“In South Yorkshire we want to restore the pride, purpose and prosperity of our communities, and we can do that by showing the rest of the world why they should invest in us and what we have to offer.
“We’ve made huge progress over the last couple of years. We’re home to the world’s first Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District and now the UK’s first investment Zone, as well as companies and people at the very forefront of materials science, propulsion, power, digital, and health-tech.
“But there's still much more to do. Right now, our economy is too small, and not everybody has the opportunity to stay near and go far.
“I’m determined to tackle that challenge head on and give South Yorkshire the growth and recognition it deserves.”
Sir Stephen Houghton, leader of Barnsley Council, said: “As ever, Barnsley will look to showcase what makes us stand out. As double winners of Council of The Year in 2023, we want to focus on our most relevant assets when it comes to this event.
“We're committed to our Health on the High Street initiative by repurposing buildings in the town centre. Following on from the success of the NHS Community Diagnostic Centre in The Glass Works; we've got ambitious plans to create a vibrant, high-quality and consistent experience across The Glass Works, Alhambra and wider town centre, and make healthcare more accessible for all.
“Additionally, we're focusing on unlocking growth through strategic investment. This revolves around maximizing the potential of The Seam – Barnsley’s Digital Campus, which falls into the South Yorkshire Investment Zone; as well as working with our key partners to leverage opportunity sites within the borough, including Junctions 36 and 37, as well as Goldthorpe.”