UKREiiF West Yorkshire Programme 2025
We're excited to offer a warm welcome to the West Yorkshire Pavilion with an engaging and interactive programme showcasing over 40 investment opportunities.
Tuesday 20 May
- 8:15 - 9.30
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Shaping Bradford's Future Together
Location - Mumtaz
With Rachael Dennis, Incommunities and David Shepherd, Strategic Director for Place, Bradford Council.
- 09:00-09:45
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Welcome to West Yorkshire: A region of learning and creativity
Location - West Yorkshire pavilion
Join us at the West Yorkshire pavilion with a live performance from Bradford 2025, UK City of Culture.
From digital design to a rich music scene to global talent, innovation and creativity are at the heart of the West Yorkshire approach.
Celebrate the opening of UKREiiF 2025 and discover why opportunity lives here.
Speakers:
- Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
- Ben Still, Chief Executive, West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Arts performance: South Asian Arts
- 10:00-11:00
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Connecting cities to turbocharge transformation: Leeds-Wakefield growth corridor
Location - West Yorkshire pavilion
Transforming cities and towns, global hyperscale data centres, virtual and physical infrastructure investment.
Join us to learn how innovation is connecting the commercial hubs of Leeds and Wakefield.
Speakers:
- Tony Reeves, Chief Exec, Wakefield Council
- Simon Dew, Development Director, Muse
- Angela Barnicle, Director of Development, Leeds City Council
- Fara Butt, Director, Shire Beds
- Facilitator: Mandy Ridyard, Mayor's Business Advisor
- 12:00-13:00
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Historic England
More information coming soon.
- 14:00-15:00
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Kirklees Council
Location - War Gallery
The BIG! Healthcare property and investment networking mixer - The War Gallery
Join leadership from across the healthcare estates for high level networking and business development opportunities.
Speakers:
- Ann Marie Aguilar, Senior Vice President - International WELL Building Institute
- Tracy Brabin, Mayor - West Yorkshire Combined Authority
- Professor Tim Thornton, Deputy Vice Chancellor - University of Huddersfield
This event is invite only, please email Andrew.Battye@ukreiif.com to register interest in attending.
- 15:30-16:30
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A trailblazer for health, sport and growth: Leeds - Kirklees growth corridor
Location - West Yorkshire pavilion
The regeneration of Leeds South Bank, station to stadium investment at Huddersfield, major housing investment at Dewsbury and capitalising on the benefits from the TransPennine Route Upgrade.
Join us to hear how health, sport and placemaking are connecting people and improving lives.
Speakers include:
- Professor Tim Thornton, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Huddersfield
- Claire Paxman, Brand Ambassador and Director of Global Training, Paxman Scalp Cooling
- Fatima Khan-Shah, Mayor's Inclusivity Champion
- Facilitator: Cllr Jane Scullion, Leader, Calderdale Council
- 15:30 - 16:30
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Bradford: Shaping a C21st City
Location - Mumtaz
Transforming our city centre; harnessing our heritage - Chair Duncan Wilson CBE (Historic England) panelists to include Bradford Council (HAZ), NLHF, Balfour Beatty (TCF), Kamran Rashid (Little Germany), 1Energy (Bradford Heat Network and Energy Centre).
- 16:30-18:00
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Revolutionising integrated transport networks across West Yorkshire
Location - West Yorkshire pavilion
Life doesn’t happen in one place. Investment in an integrated transport network is essential for sustainable growth and our future generations.
With strong Government support for West Yorkshire’s future mass transit system, what can we learn from cities that have already navigated the challenges of large-scale transport projects?
Join us to explore our vision for a future-proofed integrated transport, drawing insights from Edinburgh’s tram network—its successes, obstacles and ongoing evolution.
Speakers:
- Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
- Simon Warburton, Executive Director for Transport, West Yorkshire Combined Authority
- Paul Lawrence, Chief Exec, Edinburgh Council
- 17:00-18:00
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Wakefield Council Fringe event
Drinks reception
Location - Archie's Bar & Kitchen, Granary Wharf, Leeds.Join Council senior leaders as we announce Wakefield district investment opportunities to market.
Join Council Leader Cllr Jeffery, Chief Executive Tony Reeves to discuss all things Wakefield district. It’s an exciting time for Wakefield: from transformational urban regeneration and characterful developments to prime land availability and a can do attitude.
Book your place now via invest@wakefield.gov.uk or pop in to Archie's from 17:00.
Wednesday 21 May
- 08:15 - 9:30
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Be More Bradford: Big, Bold, Beautiful
Location - Mumtaz
Join Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire as she visits the Bradford Showcase (08:00-08:30) marking Bradford as the UK City of Culture for 2025. David Shepherd, Strategic Director - Place, Bradford Council will introduce Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council and Simon Dew ECF/MUSE - setting the stage for transformative regeneration that is unlocking Bradford's potential and reshaping the City and District.
Hear how Bradford City Village is moving forwards for market-driven, community-focused residential living.
- 08:30-09:30
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West Yorkshire: Where opportunity meets investment
Location - West Yorkshire pavilion
Join us for an exclusive networking breakfast with West Yorkshire Chief Executive, Ben Still and senior decision makers from Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield.
This is your chance to explore the exciting investment opportunities in one of the UK’s fastest-growing regions.
Discover how you can be part of this dynamic region's transformation.
Arts performance: Punjabi Roots
- 10:00–11:00
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How do we sustain West Yorkshire’s place at the forefront of the UK’s national drive to deliver 1.5m homes?
Location - West Yorkshire pavilion
This event is invite-only, contact patricia.penchiari@westyorks-ca.gov.uk to register an interest in attending.
- 12:30-13:30
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Leeds City Council
This is Leeds: From terrace to town
Location - West Yorkshire pavilion
Leeds is further developing as a Global City: A Global City with people at the heart of everything we do. This conversation will consider more about how Team Leeds and Team UK collaborations are leveraging nationally significant institutions and anchors to stimulate major economic and housing growth to meet both local and national priorities. With showcases from four major anchor projects, this will consider the role of community, transport, health, sport, culture in our growth and how local and national collaboration is driving transformational impacts for communities across Leeds, West Yorkshire and beyond. The event will also see announcements on exciting work over the next 12-18 months.
Speakers:
- Nat Edwards - Royal Armouries
- Jamie Andrews - British Library
- Tamsin Hart Jones - Homes England
- Elissa Newman - Holbeck Together
- Morrie Eisenberg - Leeds United
- Peter Lowy - Lowy Family Group/ Leeds United
- Cllr James Lewis - Leeds City Council
- Tracy Brabin - West Yorkshire Combined Authority
- Ed Whiting - Leeds City Council
- Angela Barnicle - Leeds City Council
- 13:30-14:30
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Leeds City Council
Skills for Development and Construction
Location - West Yorkshire Combined Authority
In the context of an ambitious growth plan for the region and a strong pipeline of infrastructure in Leeds, this event will explore the need to attract, engage, and retain talent in the construction sector to meet these goals.
Presenting local, regional and national perspectives, key discussion points include articulating the skills needed and why it is vital to tackle this issue, addressing skills shortages, developing career pathways, enhancing diversity, integrating AI and technology, and insights from new entrants to the industry.
The event aims to foster a positive and realistic outlook on the future of the construction workforce in West Yorkshire, ensuring the sector can meet its ambitious goal.
Speakers:
- Fiona Bolam, Chief Officer for Economy and Skills (interim), Leeds City Council
- Professor Charles Egbu, Vice-Chancellor of Leeds Trinity University
- Nikki Davis, Principal and CEO of Leeds College of Building
- 15:00-16:00
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The geography of growth and transformation: Leeds - Bradford - Halifax growth corridor
Location - West Yorkshire pavilion
The region’s unique geography offers transformational growth opportunities from infrastructure investments, place regeneration and improved connectivity.
Join us as we bring together industry leaders and policymakers to discuss how we are harnessing these opportunities to unlock the full potential of the region and create an interconnected economic powerhouse.
Speakers:
- Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader, Bradford Council
- Mike Birch, Mass Transit Director, West Yorkshire Combined Authority
- Mark Burton, Head of UK Regions and Managing Director, Corporate & Institutional Banking, Lloyds
- Martin Stow, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Business Engagement and Enterprise, University of Leeds
- Facilitator: Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
- 15:30 - 16:30
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Feeding West Yorkshire's Economy
Location - Mumtaz
The food manufacturing forces powering the sector - Join Mandy Ridyard, Myton Food Group, and Mumtaz to discuss building a resilient, innovative food economy right here in Bradford.
- 16:30-18:00
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Breaking ground: Women shaping the future of real estate
The real estate industry is dealing with a shortage of skilled workers, increasing demands for sustainable practices and a need for more diversity.
In response, women leaders are playing a key role in transforming the sector.
This session will delve into how women's roles in real estate are evolving, focusing on the challenges they face, the opportunities available and the various paths they are forging in the industry.
Speakers:
- Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
- Fatima Khan-Shah, Mayor’s Inclusivity Champion
- Lynda Rawsthorne, Head of Government Property Profession, Cabinet Office
- Clare Wood, Regional Director Infrastructure Lead, Turner & Townsend
Thursday 22 May
- 08:00-10:00
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Kirklees Council
Dewsbury Reimagined: a vision of the future
Location - Horizon, Leeds
Dewsbury is transforming like never before in modern history. Significant investments developing new town centre living accommodation, strategic mass housing schemes such as Dewsbury Riverside, major transport improvements in bus, rail and road, and key retail schemes are driving once-in-a-lifetime regeneration and the perfect environment for investors to make good long-term returns.
This event provides a unique platform to engage with key stakeholders, learn about significant upcoming projects and discuss the opportunities for a town located between the growth hubs of Leeds and Manchester. These opportunities will transform Dewsbury into a thriving focus of innovation and growth.
Speakers:
- Steve Mawson – Chief Executive, Kirklees Council
- Councillor Graham Turner - Cabinet member for Finance and Regeneration
- Tamsin Hart-Jones – Assistant Regional Director, Homes England
- Stephen Miles - Regional Managing Partner, Cushman & Wakefield
- Peter Mason – Managing Director, Mood Developments
- Tom Frater – Partnerships Team Leader, Historic England
This event is invite-only, contact jess.newbould@kirklees.gov.uk to register an interest in attending.
- 8:15 - 9.30
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Bradford + Leeds - The next European powerhouse
Location - Mumtaz
With Dr Lorraine O’Donnell, Chief Exec, Bradford Council and Ed Whiting, Chief Exec, Leeds City Council on uniting Bradford and Leeds to create the next European powerhouse that’s bigger than Estonia.
- 09:00-10:00
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Growing places: Creating a region that grows with young people
Location - West Yorkshire pavilion
A celebration of youth voices and insights from young people’s engagement activities. Explore their hopes, ideas and visions for the future.
- 10:30–11:30
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Leveraging the integrated transport network for investors - How do we finance and fund transformational infrastructure projects?
Location - West Yorkshire pavilion
This event is invite-only, contact patricia.penchiari@westyorks-ca.gov.uk to register an interest in attending.