Thames Estuary Growth Board chair Kate Willard OBE supports UKREiiF’s desire to hear from lots of different voices during the planning phase of its three-day networking, exhibition and conferencing event in Leeds next year to ensure it will be a positive experience for all who work in the industry.

Speaking at the launch seminar this week Kate, who is an internationally-renowned consultant on infrastructure and growth projects, also highlighted the need for UKREiiF to be a showcase for the best that the UK has to offer.

UKREiiF, which will also be a hybrid event, will be based around the Government’s Build Back Better agenda, following Brexit and the Coronavirus pandemic, with special focus on radically improving sustainability in the built environment, creating innovation through having a diverse and inclusive working environment and developing skills to ensure the industry is provided for in the future.

Kate said: “Speaking as Chair of the Thames Estuary Growth Board, this event is important to us. I am super excited about working with Lord Kerslake and the rest of the Advisory Group to make sure that it is as brilliant as it needs to be. Leeds is a great city and it will be lovely to be there. But key to getting things right will be our ability to engage with all of those voices that need to be heard – to make sure it is great.

“It’s going to be amazing but it’s going to be the first of its kind and so will need the input of everyone in the growth and regeneration community to make it as perfect as it deserves to be. Please make sure your voice and your ideas are heard.

“In life, we like to do business with people who we like.  We return to places where we have had a good experience. One of the things I would like us to think about is what UKREiiF can do promote the UK as a really great place and a nice place to do business.

“A place that is really welcoming, that is really positive, that has an ease of process; a confidence and a warmth about it. I can’t help but feel that if the UK feels like a good place to do business with, it will be a good place to do business with.”

To get in touch with us at UKREiiF – and express your views about any aspect of what it’s trying to achieve – click here

NEXT month’s UKREiiF seminar takes place on April 20 (1.45-3.30pm). The speakers will be UKREiiF Advisory Group members Joanne Roney OBE (Chief Executive of Manchester Council), Gagan Mohindra MP (Chair of the APPG on Regeneration and Development), Nicola Bulley (Commercial Executive of Scarborough Group International) and Elizabeth Peckett (Head of Asset Management at Allied London). To book your place click here