News

No time to shut up shop, says Garratt

7 February 2011

Tim Garratt, director at Innes England, has told Insider that there is potential for a unified East Midlands presence at the annual MIPIM commercial property show in Cannes next year.

MIPIM, which is the world's largest real estate show, runs from 8-11 March this year. However, cuts to its budget means that Nottingham City Council, which normally heads up 'Team Nottingham', has pulled out of the event.

Garratt said: "I am not sure that we could link with other cities like Sheffield or Leeds as we are competing with them for inward investment, but we could potentially look to join up with other cities in the East Midlands such as Derby or Leicester.

"The reason that Team Nottingham made this move to MIPIM is that we felt we couldn't just abandon it. Sheffield is in the same boat this year. The council there has pulled out of MIPIM and a number of businesses have come together to do the same as Team Nottingham.

"MIPIM is hugely important and it's crucial that we 'show our faces' as a city. In the past, Innes England did the biggest deal it has ever done - Beeston Business Park. MIPIM is a huge networking event and a great way to meet up with people and businesses you know."

The final line up of 'Team Nottingham' will be Innes England, Gleeds, Miller Birch, Morgan Tucker, CPMG Architects and law firm Geldards. Also joining the team is Nottingham Regeneration Limited (NRL).

Garratt said the reason that Team Nottingham made this move to MIPIM is that local professionals felt they could not just abandon it.

He added: "Sheffield is in the same boat this year. The council there has pulled out of MIPIM and a number of businesses have come together to do the same as Team Nottingham.

"MIPIM is hugely important and it's crucial that we 'show our faces' as a city. In the past, Innes England did the biggest deal it has ever done - Beeston Business Park. MIPIM is a huge networking event and a great way to meet up with people and businesses you know.

"While there is no investment going on, we simply cannot leave MIPIM for three years or more, and hope that people will remember Nottingham when we return. While we're not there, the likes of Sheffield and Leeds will be noticed, and we won't.

"We also have to remember that large scale projects take years to come to fruit. As a city, we have to stay on the map. MIPIM is about marketing and we must continue marketing in the bad times - you can't just shut up shop."

Source:www.insidermedia.com|

[back]|