Team Derby delivers ‘focused’ investment message at MIPIM

A delegation that represented Derby at MIPIM have returned following a successful week delivering the city’s key investment messages to a global audience.

Team Derby, which is made up of members of Marketing Derby’s inward investment team, along with public and private sector officials, were in Cannes for the event, which is regarded as the world’s biggest property investment show.

MIPIM attracts investors from all over the globe – and Team Derby were there to promote the major projects taking place in the city, in the hope of attracting further investment to Derby.

Schemes pitched by the team included plans for the new Assemble learning theatre on the site of the Assembly Rooms, the University of Derby’s plans proposal for a new city campus and Derbion’s masterplan to create hundreds of new homes and commercial space in the city centre.

Mr Forkin said: “I think we did both Derby and Derbyshire proud. 20,000 delegates makes MIPIM a very noisy and busy event yet it does provide cities like Derby the opportunity to get noticed.

“Our delegation did just that, mixing events with one-to-ones and always acting as ambassadors for our key messages. The proof of success will be in follow-up conversations back home and eventual visits to the city and county.”

Highlights from the week included Paul Simpson, chief executive of Derby City Council giving a pitch about Derby’s investment opportunities at the Invest City Focus event, in the EG Pavilion.

He then took part in a debate called ‘City and Growth: Opportunities for Investment and Partnerships’, alongside Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and Huw Thomas, leader of Cardiff City Council.

On the same day, Bob Betts, chairman of Marketing Derby, and Councillor Chris Poulter, leader of Derby City Council, collected Derby’s award for its placing in the prestigious Financial Times’ fDi European Cities and Regions of the Future 2023 rankings.

Derby was placed fourth within the Top 10 Small European Cities for FDI Strategy category, which recognises the cities who have devised the strongest strategy for attracting investment.

Team Derby also held a special breakfast event at the Eden Hotel, in Cannes, which delivered a focused message to a targeted audience of investors and stakeholders, detailing Derby’s exciting pipeline of future projects.

They heard from speakers including Mr Simpson, Councillor Poulter and David Williams, deputy chairman of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership.

The team’s activities were rounded off with Mr Forkin giving a speech at the Department of Business and Trade’s Midlands Reception.

At the event, which included an address by Lord Dominic Johnson, the Minister of State for Investment, Mr Forkin gave an endorsement for further Midlands collaboration especially on international platforms, arguing that we needed to co-operate at a city, region and national level supported by the Government.

Back in Derby, yesterday Team Derby held a special breakfast event at Déda, where Marketing Derby Bondholders were able to find out more about the team’s activities at MIPIM.

It featured presentations by Mr Simpson, who shared the same pitch he gave at MIPIM – and Amy Burton, inward investment executive at Marketing Derby, who talked about how some of the takeaways from MIPIM could be applied to the Derby City Lab, a venue which encourages people to engage in the city’s future.