UK Cities & Partners (UKCAP) have announced their new UK Investment Pavilion showcasing a multi-billion-pound pipeline of opportunities at EXPO REAL 2023.
Widely recognised as Europe’s largest real estate investment driven trade show, the event from 4-6 October in Munich will be a platform for the UK delegation to engage with and be represented alongside leading global cities and investors. With significant numbers of investors and advisors exhibiting at EXPO REAL, previous events have shown demonstrable returns on the relationships built.
The UKCAP Investment Pavilion is the first time that UK City Regions and the private sector will collectively present the size and scale of opportunity across the UK, whilst increasing its strategic influence and visibility at EXPO REAL and delivering a compelling inward investment narrative.
Manchester, London, West Midlands, Newcastle and Bristol & Bath are six of the first UK City Regions to announce their involvement and will be bringing with them a variety of oven-ready investment opportunities to showcase.
The private sector has also partnered with the delegation to facilitate introductions and provide critical advice and expertise, with supporters including Avison Young, Legal and General Investment Management, Aviva Investors, Moore Kingston Smith, Trowers & Hamlins, Shoosmiths and Vectos part of SLR, with more to be announced in the run up to the conference.
During the three-day trade event, UKCAP will deliver a high-impact speaker programme highlighting the best of the UK’s investment propositions, from innovation ecosystems, real assets, net zero, social sustainability and investor-ready large-scale regeneration, transport and infrastructure projects. A key aim is to curate and coordinate meetings between project and city leads with investors to ensure maximum value is achieved during the week.
With the support of the UK Government, Lord Johnson, Minister for Investment, Department for Business and Trade said: “Real estate is the bedrock of the UK economy, and it plays a huge part in encouraging investment so we can drive growth and job creation throughout the UK.
"I'm very pleased to be supporting the UK Cities & Partners Pavilion at EXPO REAL, which will play a key part in showcasing the very best of what the UK has to offer for investors alongside representatives from the UK City Regions and our partners in the private sector.
Bill Hughes, Global Head of Real Assets, Legal and General Investment Management said: “It’s critical that institutional investors’ capital is directed in supporting growth across the UK in a sustainable and meaningful way, and that’s why we’re excited to be part of EXPO REAL.”
Sheona Southern, Managing Director at Marketing Manchester, Greater Manchester’s national and international promotional agency, said: “Manchester is thrilled to be attending EXPO REAL for the first time with the UK Cities & Partners group. As Europe’s largest real estate investment and transaction-driven expo, EXPO REAL will open the doors for collaboration with other UK Cities and our European counterparts, strengthening relationships, sharing ideas, and promoting why Greater Manchester is a leading region for investment.
“This year will be the largest UK showcase at EXPO REAL to date and with newly devolved powers and a strong vision for the future, 2023 also marks a crucial turning point for our city-region, so having a prominent place on the UKCAP Investment Pavilion will position Manchester as a leader in placemaking across Europe and shine the spotlight on exciting development opportunities our public and private sector partners have in the works. Manchester’s presence will draw global attention to our ambitions for innovation, our work towards net zero and the large-scale projects that will transform not only the future of Greater Manchester but the future of the UK.”
Neil Rami, Chief Executive of the West Midlands Growth Company, said: “The West Midlands has a proud history of innovation. Now, the region’s status as the UK’s fastest growing technology cluster is driving a revolution in innovation-led development, with internationally significant schemes like the Birmingham Knowledge Quarter, Phase one of Arden Cross and Wolverhampton’s Green Innovation Corridor leading the charge. We’re excited to showcase the strength of that offering at EXPO REAL, armed with a small number of highly valuable and mature investment opportunities that demonstrate the breadth of the region’s talent and ambition.”
Laura Citron, CEO of London & Partners, said: "London is one of the leading cities globally for attracting sustainable investment and we are determined to maintain this position through the attraction of long-term capital in priority sectors and opportunity sites by participating at EXPO REAL.
“This event plays an important role in positioning London as a national and international hub, recognising the importance of the built environment to the strength of the wider economy.
“We are ready to engage with the international investor community at EXPO REAL, fostering meaningful conversations and driving tangible outcomes for London's future success."
Jason Sibthorpe, EMEA President, Avison Young said: “EXPO REAL provides Avison Young with a platform to engage with international investor clients, as well as public and private partners to strengthen cross-border relationships. Being part of the UK Cities & Partners pavilion gives us an opportunity to put a spotlight onto our UK expertise, while showcasing our global capabilities to deliver exceptional service and develop leading-edge best practice for multi-regional clients. Together, we can seize international opportunities, collaboratively driving growth and success for our clients and communities in an ever-evolving global landscape.”
Jennifer Hartley, Director of Invest Newcastle, said: “We are delighted to be attending EXPO Real in Munich this October as part of the UK Cities & Partners delegation. The event provides a unique opportunity for us to present Newcastle’s distinctive investment proposition to European investors – a proposition that is rooted in innovation that drives inclusion.
“It’s an incredibly exciting time for us to be promoting our city on the international stage, with a number of ambitious development sites beginning to take shape and a clear strategy around people-centered placemaking that our partners across the public and private sector are committed to delivering.”
Ben Sanderson, Managing Director, Real Estate at Aviva Investors, added: “As one of the largest investors in UK real estate, we are acutely aware of the wealth of opportunities that exist across different sectors and geographies up and down the country, as well as the long-term value these assets can have for investment portfolios and the benefits to communities in which they are located. It is hugely important that investment capital is channelled into activities that not only support these investment objectives, but can also contribute to long-term sustainability ambitions and the transition towards a low carbon future. We are therefore pleased to be supporting the UK Cities & Partners pavilion at EXPO REAL, and look forward to helping drive conversations and collaborative action through our activities at this year’s event and beyond.”
Katharine Glass, Director, White Label Creative, the organisation behind UKCAP and supporting delegation said: “We believe that EXPO REAL is a critical place to be for the UK to unlock and develop important investment partnerships and to ensure that the UK is a key part of an international dialogue as our leaders from the public and private sectors look to set us on a better, more sustainable path for the future.”
For more information on how to get involved in the UK Pavilion at EXPO REAL please visit the website: https://ukcitiesinvestment.co.uk/