South Yorkshire's Mayor to hold 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; building a bigger and better economy. I’m proud of how much progress we’ve made over the last couple of years alone.

“We’re home to the world’s first advanced manufacturing district and the UK’s first Investment Zone. We’re leading the way on advanced manufacturing, materials science, sustainable aviation and health-technology. 
“But there’s still a huge amount more to do if we are going to restore the pride, purpose and prosperity of South Yorkshire. 

“Our economy remains too small, we don’t have enough businesses and we’re not making the most of the huge talent that exists right across Barnsley, Rotherham, Doncaster and Sheffield. 

“So I’m determined to sell South Yorkshire to the world, so we can bring in the investment, the businesses and the expertise we need to create that bigger, better economy, so that opportunity is available to everyone across our communities.” 

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.”

Kate Josephs, Chief Executive of Sheffield City Council, said: “I am delighted that Sheffield will be attending UKREIIF for its third year in Leeds. It is our ambition to continue to drive our global reputation through placemaking, innovation, and investment. This year the city has hosted the 26th MOBO Awards, have been named Time Out’s UK Foodie Capital, and has been selected as central government’s choice for the UK’s first Civil Service Policy Hub – we start the year as we mean to go on. 

“Our successful partnerships have seen us move into delivery phase with Homes England support, a strategic placed based relationship which is intended to facilitate collaboration between landowners, private sector partners and the public sector with interventions deployed where necessary to un-lock the delivery of thousands of new homes across the city. 

“We are committed to working with the South Yorkshire Mayor in delivering the Investment Zone in the Region, leveraging the assets and skills that Sheffield has within advanced manufacturing, health tech and life sciences. 
“Sheffield understands growth. Our growth plan forecasts £3billion of investment into the city and we look forward to sharing these successes and opportunities during UKREIIF 2024.” 

Damian Allen, Chief Executive of Doncaster Council said: “We are thrilled to be returning to UKREiiF for a second year alongside our partners and neighbouring authorities as part of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

“We feel it is an event of paramount importance and look forward to building on last year’s success to have an even greater impact in 2024. 
“The City of Doncaster is undergoing a transformative phase with a number of multi-million projects underway across all areas of the borough. 

“Investment is aimed at rejuvenating our City Centre, supporting our key development sites, bolstering the local economy and enhancing infrastructure. 

“Once again, we will be showcasing the exciting development and investment opportunities we have here in Doncaster in what promises to be another fantastic event. 

“Our presence at UKREiiF is critical as it enables us to make a lasting impact on investors and decision makers. This ultimately results in new jobs and an improved quality of life for our people and communities.”

Chief Executive of Rotherham Council Sharon Kemp said: “With over £200m of Council investment in regeneration across the borough already underway, we are unlocking a future of growth and prosperity in Rotherham. 

“A new £45m leisure scheme in the heart of the town centre on Forge Island, over £30m to redevelop Rotherham Markets, over £19m of investment into visitor economy assets such as Wentworth Woodhouse and Gulliver’s Valley and plans for a new mainline train station are transformational and testament to our ability to build strong mutually beneficial partnerships with developers and investors that lead to long-term success.”