Sector approach drives growth ambition for Leeds City Region Investment Week 2014

26.09.13

A sector approach to drive economic growth as part of Investment Week at MIPIM 2014 is being embarked upon, with a focus on key areas where the Leeds City Region has unique strengths, assets and points of differentiation.

MIPIM 2013 saw a partnership led by Leeds and Partners between Bradford, Leeds, Wakefield and York and 10 private sector investors, come together for the first time to deliver the region’s most successful presence at the conference to date. In a departure from the previous city-led approach, the 2014 programme will showcase sectors including health and innovation, manufacturing and the digital and information economy.

The City Region is the UK’s largest manufacturing employment base, with 160,000 people working in the sector and particular strengths in precision engineering and environmental technologies. Capabilities in innovation and technology, in addition to a critical mass of systems, infrastructure, software, skills and entrepreneurial activity, also provide the City Region with a bid to be the UK’s northern digital and information hub.

Roger Marsh, Chair of the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), said: “Our Investment Week at MIPIM 2014 programme promises to be a game-changer in the way we present our powerful proposition to the global investment community. This united approach, working across our towns and cities and with business to secure new investment for our City Region, demonstrates the maturity of our partnership and strengthens our proposition in those sectors where we have genuinely world-leading capabilities and credentials.”

Following the announcement of Town Centre Securities’ commitment as a private sector sponsor, Shulmans have also confirmed they will be joining the partnership in 2014. Earlier this year, the law firm signed up to move into a landmark new office development at 10 Wellington Place, in which they will take half the occupancy as the first tenants of the 35,000 sq ft five-storey building. Construction by developers MEPC is now underway at the first new-build, Grade A office development in Leeds city centre for five years.

Andrew Latchmore, Partner at Shulmans, said: “Leeds City Region has a lot to offer overseas investors and it is really important that we seize opportunities such as the MIPIM Conference to spread the word.

“Shulmans, as part of the Interlegal international network of law firms, is keen again to play its part in developing our region’s overseas trade links and encouraging investment in the region from the many who see the UK as a natural and desirable location to invest their capital.”

Developments in the Leeds City Region have continued to pick up pace this year, helping to propel its status as a leading centre for investment within the UK.

In Leeds, Roydhouse Properties has acquired the Central Square site, with the intention to develop a £50million iconic office building in the city.

Westfield will commence its £275m retail scheme in Bradford city centre in late 2013, and the Merchant Gate regeneration scheme will continue this year with the new state of the art Wakefield Westgate railway station.

In York, Network Rail has invested £36m in a new rail operating and training centre at York Central. Upon completion in early 2014, it will be the largest operating centre in the country and will control signalling and rail operations on the east coast from London King’s Cross to the Scottish borders.