County at the heart of MIPIM Powerhouse pitch

The Northern Powerhouse was the focus of a combined Northern LEPs discussion panel at MIPIM International, the annual property and investment conference in Cannes.

More than 25,000 delegates attend the three-day expo including investors, developers, property agents and policy makers from across the globe.

And Lancashire maintained a high profile throughout the event, including an appearance by county ambassador Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff.

David Taylor, who chairs the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP) took part in the panel held at the UK Government Pavilion and key themes covered included infrastructure and transport links.

The LEP also exhibited at the MIPIM expo and highlighted a range of large-scale investment opportunities and major schemes coming forward in the county.

These included the Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal, the proposed Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) at Samlesbury, UCLan’s Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC) in Preston, Lancaster University’s Health Innovation Campus (HIC) and the proposals for Morecambe’s Eden North development.

Lancashire also held a special session in partnership with Cheshire and Warrington LEP - which discussed maritime and waterfront economies.

A series of networking events were also arranged by the Lancashire delegation at the March gathering, which were sponsored by some of the county’s leading businesses including Conlon Construction, Anderton Gables, the Eric Wright Group and Shoosmiths.

These included a VIP dinner featuring a Lancashire-inspired menu prepared by Hipping Hall head chef Oli Martin, and a Lancashire Ambassadors’ brunch event attended by the county’s first Lancashire Ambassador Andrew Flintoff.

Preston-born Andrew told Lancashire Business View “It was a great honour to be invited to a major investment event like MIPIM to promote all that is great about Lancashire to investors, developers and policy makers from around the world.

“I was also keen to encourage other Lancastrians who were in Cannes to join me and act as advocates for the county through their own business and personal networks as together we can all help put Lancashire on the map globally.”

Chief Executive of Marketing Lancashire Rachel McQueen, who organised Lancashire’s MIPIM trade mission, said: “We have enjoyed a higher profile at MIPIM this year than ever before.

“The response to all our events has been very positive, and all of our partners and sponsors have been superb advocates for what Lancashire has to offer economically, socially and culturally.”