Kirklees Council is to showcase Huddersfield’s potential to global investors.

The council is attending the upcoming UK Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) to promote the borough to an international audience.

The event, which will take place between May 16 and 18 in Leeds, is the UK’s real estate exhibition and networking event connecting over 6,000 investors, funders and developers from around the world.

Alongside multiple investment opportunities spanning industrial, office, retail, housing and mixed-use developments, Kirklees will showcase transformational regeneration projects including Huddersfield’s Cultural Heart, the University of Huddersfield’s National Health Innovation Campus and Network Rail’s TransPennine Route Upgrade.

David Shepherd, the council’s strategic director for growth and regeneration, said: “UKREiiF presents a key opportunity to showcase the scale and pace of regeneration in Kirklees.

“Our strong vision for the future, our partnership collaboration and our forward-thinking approach to development and sustainable growth has helped realise over £1 billion planned investment in private and public infrastructure over the next five years.

Kirklees Council leader Clr Shabir Pandor (left) with director of regeneration David Shepherd with a model of the Cultural Heart

“Kirklees is already home to thriving precision engineering, advanced manufacturing and textiles industries. We’ll draw on these industry strengths, as well as local talent and the district’s fantastic heritage and culture, its innovation and entrepreneurship, to showcase Kirklees’ strengths as a place in which to do business.

“We believe that Kirklees is an ideal destination for businesses looking to invest and expand, and we’re eager to share that message with investors from around the world.”

UKREiiF will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions and networking opportunities for investors and developers. The event is a chance for Kirklees Council to connect with potential investors and partners, and to showcase the district’s strengths. 

Linked to UKREiiF, the council and Huddersfield Unlimited, a business-led organisation that stands for the town, are hosting a networking drinks reception on May 16 in Leeds to make further connections and celebrate Huddersfield as an exceptional place to invest and do business.

Charles Maltby, programme director at Huddersfield Unlimited, said: “With well over £1 billion already being planned for investment into Huddersfield, now is a fantastic time for any potential investing organisation to look hard at what the town has to offer.

“Huddersfield’s excellent transport links and geographic position in the centre of the Northern Powerhouse/east-west corridor are enhanced by the regeneration of the town centre, by our partners Kirklees Council.

“This will be further strengthened by the development of the new National Health Innovation Campus by the University of Huddersfield.

“And the identification of the Station to Stadium Enterprise Corridor to draw in businesses offering high-value jobs for Huddersfield can only add to other investment/redevelopment opportunities around the town.

“We’re looking forward to meeting businesses, potential investors and those interested in finding out more about how they could become part of Huddersfield’s success and vision for the future at our UKREiiF evening networking event.”