A host of key industry figures have thrown their weight behind today’s launch of The UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF), a new vehicle to facilitate economic growth which will culminate in a three-day networking, exhibition and conference super event in Leeds next year.

UKREiiF’s mission is to help bring together the public and private sectors to support the ambition for the UK to Build Back Better following the pandemic.

To achieve this aim there will be a range of one-day events and new information resources made available via www.ukreiif.com, all building towards the mass, industry-wide get-together in Leeds on May 17-19th, 2022. It will be a hybrid event with both in-person and on-line attendance options.

UKREiiF creator Keith Griffiths said: “UKREiiF will connect investors from the UK and overseas to development opportunities within our shores. The Forum will also attract inward investment, generate economic growth and drive a more sustainable and inclusive culture within the property and construction industries.”

A number of senior influential figures and businesses/organisations have announced their commitment to UKREiiF:

  • Lord Bob Kerslake – Chair of Peabody, Chair of Be First, Chair of Pagabo and Chair of the Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation
  • Kate Willard OBE – Thames Estuary Envoy and Chair of the Thames Estuary Growth Board
  • Joanne Roney OBE – Chief Executive of Manchester City Council
  • Gagan Mohindra MP – Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Regeneration and Development and MP for South West Hertfordshire
  • Ghislaine Halpenny – Director of Strategy and External Affairs at British Property Federation
  • Elizabeth Peckett – Head of Asset Management at Allied London
  • Nicola Bulley – Commercial Executive at Scarborough Group International
  • Amos Simbo – Founder of Black Professionals in Construction
  • Paul Pavia ­– Head of Development at MEPC
  • Liam Rhonan-Chlond – Head of Engagement and Social Value at First Base
  • Aimee Byrnes – Director, Head of Marketing UK at Avison Young

Other organisations include the Royal Town Planning Institute, Willmott Dixon, Constructing Rainbows, Pagabo and CB Collier.

Lord Bob Kerslake, Chair of UKREiiF Advisory Group and former Chief Executive of the Homes & Communities Agency, said: “I was really keen to join this initiative that will bring together the public and private sector along with companies large and small. It’s becoming increasingly odd for the UK’s property and regeneration industries to travel to the South of France annually to meet people you can do just as easily and effectively in the UK.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has given us an opportunity to pause and reflect, an opportunity to ask ourselves what the future should look like in terms of an event that brings these industries together. Such an event is needed – to connect and network, learn from each other and highlight new opportunities, and this new UK-based forum will be really important. UKREiiF is a new future that we should embrace. A new UK property and investment conference can and must have a much greater focus on sustainability, inclusion and a healthy environment.”

Kate Willard OBE, Thames Estuary Envoy and Chair of the Thames Estuary Growth Board, added: “I’m already looking forward to the UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) in Leeds in 2022. There is a huge amount of investment and development potential in the UK, including the Thames Estuary, the UK’s number one green growth opportunity. It makes sense to have an event of the highest calibre in this country.”

For those wishing to find out more about UKREiiF, an ‘introduction to’ webinar is being put on next week (Wednesday, March 17). For more details on this free event click here. For further information about all aspects of UKREiiF visit www.ukreiif.com