West Midlands to set out bold growth agenda at UK’s largest real estate conference

The West Midlands will showcase its most ambitious programme to date at UKREiiF – the UK’s leading investment and infrastructure forum, taking place from 20 to 22 of May. 

Led by Mayor of the West Midlands, Richard Parker, its delegation will rally behind a core mission of mobilising economic growth across the region. The West Midlands’ three-day programme will explore the scale of regeneration opportunity across the region’s £117bn economy, with panels, keynotes, roundtables and networking sessions targeting the developer and investor community.

The comprehensive programme will be organised around a range of topical themes: 
 

• Tuesday, 20 May AM - Housing delivery 
  Including; market challenges and viability, and public sector intervention. 

• Tuesday, 20 May PM – Infrastructure 
  Including; decarbonisation strategies, the HS2 growth corridor, West Bromwich Town Centre procurement and the Birmingham Sports Quarter vision. 

• Wednesday, 21 May AM - Investment and occupier trends 
  Including; the West Midlands Investment Zone occupier opportunity, and the role of JVs in Wolverhampton’s Economic Growth Zone. 

• Wednesday, 21May PM – Innovation (It Starts Here) 
  Including: Birmingham Knowledge Quarter ambitions, regional place-making and Coventry’s innovation ecosystem 

• Thursday, 22 May AM – Policy 
  Including; the new West Midlands Local Growth Plan, and reflections from the week 
   

It will also feature a series of announcements linking to; the region’s investment portfolio, Birmingham Sports Quarter, West Bromwich Town Centre, as well as Smithfield Birmingham – which will manifest as a vibrant celebration of Birmingham’s next chapter, packed with electrifying spoken word, ‘Brummie’ food and incredible music. 

Among those in attendance will be Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands; Joanne Roney, managing director of Birmingham City Council; Greg Clark, executive chair of the University of Warwick’s Innovation District; Tom Wagner, co-founder of Knighthead Capital, and Huw Edwards, executive director of Stations at HS2.

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: "The West Midlands is already one of the UK’s most attractive destinations for investors but I’m committed to accelerating that economic growth so it benefits all our communities sooner. 

"That means forging partnerships with forward looking investors and developers whose ambitions support my own key priorities of growth, jobs, affordable homes and better transport. UKREiiF offers a golden opportunity to do that and change thousands of lives for the better. 

"And with some of the country’s most important regeneration schemes in the pipeline, and the added benefit of the West Midlands’ Investment Zone status, there has never been a better time to become part of our shared success story.”  

Organised by the West Midlands Growth Company – the region’s investment promotion agency - the delegation will include local authority figureheads, spanning:  Birmingham, Coventry and Warwickshire, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, Wolverhampton and the West Midlands Combined Authority. 

UKREiiF follows the West Midlands’ successful presence at MIPIM 2025 and comes ahead of the launch of the West Midlands Local Growth Plan taking place on June 30.

Delegates will have a unique opportunity to discuss the associated Green Paper and input their views into the future economic direction of the region. 

To learn more about the West Midlands programme for UKREiiF 2025, visit  the website.

Pictured (L-R): Neil Rami, chief executive at WMGC; Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands; Julie Nugent, chief executive at Coventry City Council and Eamonn Boylan, interim chief executive at Homes England