Staffordshire promoted on national stage as top place for investment potential

Staffordshire’s reputation as a county growing in investment potential has been enhanced at a national three-day event.

A delegation from the county council and its partners promoted Staffordshire at UKREiiF (UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum) in Leeds.

The inaugural event aims brought together local and regional public sector organisations with Government, investors, funders, developers, housebuilders and more.

We Are Staffordshire, Make It Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, Staffordshire County Council and partners hosted and spoke at events across the three days. It is estimated that over 4,000 people attended.

At the Staffordshire events, there was a focus on positioning the county as a place to invest, town centre and high streets regeneration and the investment potential along the A50/A500 corridor with major transport infrastructure improvements planned.

County Council Chief Executive John Henderson joined a panel to discuss the Future High Streets programme, while We Are Staffordshire Place Brand Manager, Louisa Shaw joined a panel debate focusing on how places can work with the private sector.

A Staffordshire panel discussion on growth along the A50/A500 corridor also took place at the conference, attended by a number of key stakeholders from Staffordshire County Council, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Maria Machencoses, Chief Executive of Midlands Connect, Ann Pittard, Director of Engagement and Partnerships at Keele University and John Kavanagh, Director of Communications at JCB.

Other sessions promoted some of the county’s key investment sites, such as Chatterley Valley, i54 South Staffordshire and the Stafford Gateway.

Staffordshire County Council leader Alan White said:

“This was the inaugural UKREiiF event – bringing together councils and regional bodies with developers, housebuilders and Government.

“It was therefore critical that Staffordshire has a presence there throughout where we are very much at the forefront. We wanted to make a lasting impact on those who could bring substantial investment to our county, either directly or as decision makers. With that investment comes jobs, better health and strengthened communities.

“Together with our partners we were determined to make our mark over the three days and are now following up on the contacts we have made and conversations we have had with planned and focused activity.”

Main themes across the event included the UK’s net zero target, social value and inclusive growth, the future of real estate, building better communities and a focus on inward investment.