A look back at the success of UKREiiF 2024

West & North Yorkshire Chamber congratulates the organisers of this year’s UKREiiF on a tremendously successful event

More than 12,000 people from all around the world attended the three-day conference in Leeds, with a substantial proportion of our membership represented. 

Chamber staff attended a raft of events, both at the UKREiiF site at Leeds Dock and Royal Armouries, and at fringe events across the city. 

Numerous highlights were seen across the three days.  

The Chamber staged its own fringe event at Addleshaw Goddard’s office wherein stakeholders were able to meet with British Chamber of Commerce’s director of policy Alex Veitch. 

Members of Bradford Chamber’s Property and Economic Forum Steering Group, alongside Bradford Council, staged a spectacular three day showcase ahead of Bradford 2025 – highlighting all of the exciting regeneration schemes coming to the city. 

In Leeds, Chamber members Caddick unveiled its spectacular South Village scheme which will create nearly 2,000 new homes, a hotel, 650,000 sq ft of commercial space and a village green, just off of Meadow Road. Caddick also announced a Memorandum of Understanding with Homes England to bring the project closer to fruition.  

There was also the announcement that Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has awarded Scarborough Group International as the preferred developer to redevelop its Old Medical School into a health tech innovation hub. 

The proposed agreement to acquire and refurbish the grade II*-listed building represents the first phase in the development of the Innovation Village.  

North Yorkshire Combined Authority was well-represented with newly elected mayor David Skaith appearing at numerous events, including alongside his West Yorkshire counterpart Tracy Brabin. The Invest in York & North Yorkshire team were also visible at several events.  

More details on the City Village plan for Bradford were unveiled at REiiF, a 1,000-home project for the city centre.  

The project is expected to take 10 years to complete, with a planning application set to be submitted in 2025. 

A Chamber spokesperson said: “Well done to the Royal Armouries Museum and Leeds Dock for being such phenomenal hosts and showing that Yorkshire can host massive events that attract delegates from across the planet. 
 
“Well done to our local authorities for doing themselves proud in championing what they do.  
 
“Congratulations to our first-class private sector for the incredible volume of projects, deals, MOUs and Joint Ventures announced – as well as a plethora of first class fringe events.  
 
“Above all, well done Matt Christie and Nathan Spencer for an exceptional job well done.”