There has been a great deal of debate around the Coventry and Warwickshire attendance at the MIPIM property and investment conference.
We have, as property agents and advisors, been involved with many of the major developments in the city centre and are active in schemes throughout the UK.
While questions have centred around the number of council officers attending the show, there have also been doubts expressed about the importance and relevance of the event.
I have been to eight MIPIMs and there is no question that it is THE event in commercial property. Investors and developers are there to meet decision makers, to have negotiations and also to gauge the market.
A great deal of that involves meeting UK cities and their representatives, both on an elected and officer level. They want to know that cities are open to investment, that they are keen attract development and have an attitude that will make that possible. They want to do that in a very concentrated three or four day timeframe, and that means they have to meet the very top people in cities.
Coventry – and more latterly Warwickshire – has given that very positive impression at MIPIM in recent years and actually pioneered the idea of a private sector funding partnership to alleviate costs to the public purse.
The overwhelming majority of cities of size in the UK are at the show and as a Coventrian born and bred, and as a property professional, I would be extremely concerned about the city’s standing, image and ambition if it were not represented. I sit on the Coventry and Warwickshire Place Board, which leads on the promotion of the city and county, and from that point of view I see MIPIM as a necessity if we are a region of ambition and growth.
In terms of staff, I know first-hand how hard the officers and elected officials work during the three or four days or the show.
And actually the reason for the increase in staff this year is very simple – Coventry and Warwickshire has a larger stand at the show this year and needs extra staff to operate it effectively.