The UK Real Estate, Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) has rapidly become a fixture on the political and business calendar. Now in its fourth year, it brought together more than 16,000 delegates and over 150 sponsors and exhibitors – many of whom went big, spending tens of thousands on pavilions, stands and branding.
Hosted in Leeds by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, UKREiiF has established itself as the UK’s answer to MIPIM – a place where property developers and investors mix with public sector decision-makers, local leaders, and national politicians.
Inflect sent two of us along this year – our first time attending – to get a sense of how UKREiiF fits into the public affairs landscape. Here are our thoughts.
- The scale
Let’s start with the obvious: it’s massive. UKREiiF has grown quickly – almost tripling in size in just three years. With 16,000 attendees, it’s beginning to rival major political events such as Party Conference in terms of scale.
It’s also physically enormous. Spread across multiple venues in and around the Leeds Dock and Royal Armouries, it’s a multi-day marathon with hundreds of sessions, fringe events, receptions and exhibits. You won’t see everything, and you shouldn’t try. I clocked 24,000 steps on day one and didn’t scratch the surface. You need a plan, and some sensible shoes.
- The politics
Politics is an undercurrent at UKREiiF, but it certainly takes a back seat to the more consensus-led industry focus. High-profile speakers included Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook, Transport Minister Simon Lightwood, and Minister without Portfolio Georgia Gould, alongside numerous MPs and councillors.
Yet, unlike a Party Conference, UKREiiF isn’t about contentious debate. There’s broad agreement on key priorities – stability, pipeline, certainty, and private-sector collaboration. While this consensus supports practical delivery, it also means the event lacks the dynamic edge and lively audience interaction typical of political debates, making some panels feel relatively subdued.
- The pace
Like Party Conference, UKREiiF moves fast. There’s not much scope for in-depth sit-down meetings – space is at a premium and people are constantly on the move. But it’s a great place for quick conversations, chance encounters and spontaneous follow-ups. A five-minute chat in a corridor, queue or café can be as valuable as a formal meeting.
A lot of the real action happens outside the formal programme – in the coffee queues, riverside bars and makeshift seating areas dotted around the venue. It has a festival-like energy, and (at least this year) the weather played ball.
- The policy
Despite the subdued politics, policy issues permeate discussions. Planning reforms, building safety, skills shortages, housing targets and devolution featured consistently. The Building Safety Act 2022 was a frequent target of developers’ frustrations, potentially jeopardising the government’s ambitious housing targets.
Skills shortages also featured prominently, with a widespread belief that devolved budgets might address the challenge, albeit not quickly enough to prevent delays in infrastructure and housing delivery.
- Devolution: front and centre
Devolution was central at UKREiiF, dominating discussions and displays alike. Every Combined Authority had branded pavilions, showcasing regional strengths. Metro mayors – particularly from the North – were a significant draw, often overshadowing national figures in terms of attention and energy.
There was a palpable belief that empowered local leadership is crucial for growth. The widely praised ‘trailblazer’ deals and potential single funding settlements highlighted broad support for accelerating devolution. The newly launched Great North initiative, backed by Northern Metro Mayors and launched alongside Angela Rayner, illustrated strong regional ambition with a £118 billion pipeline of projects.
- Private capital, public opportunity
The event clearly showcased private-sector appetite for investment in housing, infrastructure, transport, and energy. The primary ask from industry was straightforward: government stability and clarity to facilitate private capital deployment. Aligning government priorities with local pipelines emerged as a key theme, particularly ahead of the upcoming Spending Review.
The verdict
UKREiiF isn’t a traditional political event, but it holds significant value for public affairs professionals. While the political argument is mostly absent, there’s a clear and compelling consensus on delivery priorities, a strong presence of local leaders and decision-makers, and deep insights into sector perspectives.
If your clients work in housing, infrastructure, energy, or local government, chances are they were there. If you weren’t, consider making it a priority next year.
