Central South region builds stronger national and international connections at MIPIM 2024
Published: March 26 2024
A business-led consortium flying the flag for the Central South region at MIPIM, the world’s leading property and investment event in Cannes, has further strengthened national and international links for the region.
The Central South staged its own events at MIPIM focusing on Maritime, Culture and Sustainability and also secured high profile visits from Housing Minister, Lee Rowley, MP (pictured centre) and Tim Newns, the MD of Levelling Up at the Office for Investment.
Tim Newns said: “It is really great to see the public and private sector partnership in the Central South region.”
The region was also represented on the UK Cities stage and at a UK Cities dinner where Lord Dominic Johnson MP, Minister of State for Trade, applauded the region and highlighted the major financial sector based in Bournemouth.
The UK Cities dinner was organised by Liverpool and supported by Belfast, Cardiff and the Central South UK.
“Southampton, Portsmouth and Bournemouth are huge hubs with Bournemouth being one of the biggest financial service hubs in Europe,” he said.
The 45-strong private sector-led group included representatives from Atkins Realis, Blake Morgan, Boyle & Summers, Cavendish, Edgingtons, Go Southampton, Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, Igloo, Knights Brown, Kier, Maritime UK Solent, Morgan Sindall Group, Ordnance Survey, Savills, Solent Freeport, Solent Partners, T H Planning and the University of Southampton.
Portsmouth City Council, Fareham Borough Council and Basingstoke & Deane Council supported the project.
Together they promoted investment and development sites across the region and made valuable connections.
Kevin Valentine, Managing Director of Knights Brown, an independent construction and civil engineering company based in Ringwood, said being at MIPIM had enabled his team to make valuable connections not only with businesses and organisations in the Central South but also with investors who are keen to come to the Central South.
Business South Group CEO, Leigh-Sara Timberlake, said the promotion of the Central South is going from strength to strength.
“Business South is proud to co-ordinate the promotion of our region on an international stage. We are definitely seeing more visibility for our region and it was fabulous to have the support of Ordnance Survey, who created a digital map for us highlighting the investment sites in our region,” she said.
Gavin Hall, Head of the Savills Central South office and chair of Business South’s Regenerate Central South Action Group, said being at international events like MIPIM was so important if the region is to attract investors.
“We held our own Central South Investors Lunch and that was an opportunity for us to showcase the region to potential investors.
“The profile for the region is being raised both nationally and internationally and it is gratifying to see the engagement with UK government ministers as well as overseas investors.
“The atmosphere at MIPIM certainly seemed to be turning more positive and the Central South is ready to benefit from that positivity,” he said.
MIPIM welcomed 20,000+ delegates and 6,500 investors – you can see more here on our highlights video. The Central South at MIPIM 2024 (youtube.com)
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Note to Editors: For more information or to arrange further interviews, contact Kate Pearce kate@businesssouth.org