Lancashire team returns from successful international expo

A Lancashire delegation, which partnered with Manchester for the first time, has returned from an international property conference hailing its mission as a success.

The Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has reported back from the county’s first visit to MIPIM International, the property and investment conference held annually in Cannes each March.

The LEP-led Lancashire delegation, which officially partnered with the Manchester MIPIM trade mission, included Ruth Connor, chief executive of Marketing Lancashire, and David Taylor, deputy chair of the LEP and chair of The University of Central Lancashire Board.

This included Lancashire’s new Advanced Manufacturing and Energy Cluster which includes the county’s four Enterprise Zone sites at Samlesbury, Warton, Blackpool Airport and Hillhouse in Wyre.

A further asset which was very well received was the new Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) at Samlesbury, which was recently announced in the government’s £70m Growth Deal 3 funding announcement for Lancashire.

But as well as highlighting many of Lancashire’s specific strengths and unique selling points, by aligning themselves to the Manchester consortium the county’s representatives were able to capitalise on Lancashire’s proximity to the major northern urban hubs, and tap into the growing global brand recognition of the Northern Powerhouse initiative.

“Partnering with Manchester in our first year was exactly the right approach as it gave us access to a comprehensive range of potential partners and development opportunities.

“We also got the chance to get to meet and connect with many of the Lancashire businesses who attended the event, and further engage with international investors and developers who were very interested in hearing about the Lancashire offer, and how we fitted into the Northern Powerhouse concept. “Overall, our MIPIM international debut has been very successful, and we will build on the momentum and interest generated to continue to promote the county as an ambitious inward investment destination, at the very heart of a thriving Northern Powerhouse, nationally and globally.”