MIPIM | Journey to Cannes begins for North West companies

The global property event officially kicks off on Tuesday, which means thousands of industry professionals have now converged on the French Riviera to discuss the latest trends and investment opportunities.

Jet2’s flight from Manchester Airport to Nice on Monday morning was filled with those attending MIPIM, including the Place North West team.

Before take-off, connections were already being made and business cards were exchanged. MIPIM networking, it would seem, waits for no one.

But that’s the point and benefit of MIPIM, with many of those Place spoke with praising the conference for being a great place to make connections.

For MIPIM first-timer Scott Marshall, managing director of Roma Finance, the event was about “making contacts and furthering the development of the business”. He had made the decision to attend the Cannes event only days before and was planning on walking along La Croisette and just seeing what happened.

It was also the first time for Rob Wiggans, investment manager at investment app Portfolio.

“It’s my first rodeo,” Wiggans said. “We’re looking for new deals and seeing what MIPIM is about.”

For him, MIPIM represents a chance to help further establish Portfolio, with MIPIM acting as the perfect stage. “It’s to get our business out there in the property world,” he said.

The MIPIM audience is also who Suzanne Benson and Katie Saunders, both partners at Trowers and Hamlins’ Manchester office, are trying to connect with. Trowers and Hamlins has produced a report discussing social housing and modular opportunities.

“It’s a mixing pot of everyone across the country and internationally,” Saunders said. MIPIM allows Trowers and Hamlins to reach a wider audience in one go, she continued.

Benson echoed Saunders. “MIPIM is an opportunity to meet different people at the same time who wouldn’t normally be together,” she said.

• Stay up-to-date on the latest MIPIM news on the Place North West MIPIM hub.

Progressive Living Developments director David Fairclough is a MIPIM veteran. He was at MIPIM to catch up with old contacts and make new ones.

“It’s a good chance to get together,” he said.

MIPIM, he went on, is not about necessarily making deals then and there. “It’s what you make of it when you get back,” he said.

This year, MIPIM is focused on several key topics: citizen-focused development, affordable housing, sustainability, office innovation, real estate investment and proptech.

Among those attending MIPIM are representatives from BCEGI, DeTrafford, Morgan Sindall, WSP, Savills, JLL. See Place’s list of companies attending the conference. 

Not attending this year is Moscow City Government, which has had a large stand at the conference over the past few years. MIPIM organiser RX has strongly condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and confirmed that no Russian companies would be exhibiting this year.

MIPIM runs through 18 March at Cannes.

Place North West MIPIM 2022 coverage is sponsored by Castle Green Homes