Martin Yardley, Coventry City Council Deputy Chief Executive, CEO of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
There is no question that the standing of Coventry and Warwickshire has evolved in recent years.
Speaking from a Coventry perspective, we have done years of the hard yards both in the work we have carried out in the city to put us in the position to attract investment, but also in terms of ensuring that the wider property community is aware of our ambition.
For the last two years, we have been aware that people have taken notice of that work and the investment we have attracted and are keen to speak to us about a very wide variety of schemes and ideas.
Of course, not all those are viable or relevant, but the fact they are keen to present them to us says a great deal about our presence at MIPIM and reputation we have for delivery.
We have hosted a wide variety of events which have attracted really encouraging audiences. The Transforming Nuneaton initiative was the subject of a round table event, with national industry figures assessing the plans and giving their verdict.
I know that Warwickshire County Council were really pleased with the feedback they received and suggestions on how to best take it from a plan to delivery. We are committed to working with them and Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council – when needed – to help make it become a reality.
University of Warwick attracted a full house with a presentation on development of their assets, while developer Regents Affordable presented on modern construction methods and neighbourhoods of the future.
The Midlands UK pavilion has been very busy and again Coventry and Warwickshire has presented on a number of key industry panels and also headlined events on UK City of Culture 2021 and regeneration through sport, highlighting our European City of Sport 2019 status.
Of course, MIPIM is as much about what you do when you return as what you do during the four days. We have arranged a string of follow-up meetings and are looking forward to what will come out of those.
All the regions at MIPIM are competing in a global market and just shouting loudest does not work. You have to have ambition, an awareness of what the market needs to make development work and a track record of delivery.
At the moment we tick all of those boxes.