For HORIBA MIRA, MIPIM is not necessarily about unearthing new occupiers for the rapidly growing MIRA Technology Park. Nor is the objective sourcing investors for the £300 million development, which – as part of MIRA – joined the HORIBA Group, a major Japanese technology company with a global reputation for automotive and clinical test equipment, last year.
In fact, both the MIRA and the Technology Park development is on a strong financial footing and well placed to continue the rapid growth of the business which supports one of the UK’s leading Enterprise Zones.
So why do we go? The annual pilgrimage to Cannes is a chance for MIRA to support key partners and stakeholders, and reinforce ties across the Midlands automotive industry and regional LEP partners.
While not as convenient as a short journey to Coventry from MIRA’s estate, based between Nuneaton and Hinckley, MIPIM offers the opportunity to create 48 hours of bandwidth for key players in the Midlands property industry and respective local authorities and LEPs to meet, put across our statements of intent and, of course, to network.
The development at MIRA Technology Park has reached a key milestone in a relatively short period since its conception as a masterplan drawing to grow within the 850-acre estate. Following the delivery of major road and power infrastructure earlier this year, plans are now well under way for Phase Two of the development.
This will be the 16th year I have made the trip, and I was close to signing up to ditch the plane and take the bike on the now well-known annual ride to MIPIM. That has had to wait due to my involvement in organising an eight day 1,000 mile John O’Groats to Paris ride in May for the Duchenne Children’s Trust, where I will join six British Lions and other rugby ex-internationals on a marathon cycle to raise funds towards finding a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
I am told that the reward for the MIPIM cyclists is an unrivalled opportunity to make career-long connections with others in their industry sector as well as raising significant sums for charity… maybe next year.