By Tim Garratt, director at East Midlands-based agent, Innes England
MIPIM is always an interesting experience. It's a world property show and you get to meet people from all parts of the globe . Last week I met the CEO of Argus Software - the folks who write the 'only' valuation software worthy of mention.
I mentioned where I was from - and until we did the Robin Hood 'thing' he wasn't sure. London sometimes seems to be the only place in the UK?
But it seems that this is not just Nottingham centric. Our sister cities in the East Midlands get the same treatment.
The East Midlands has a lot to offer - and my involvement this year at MIPIM is as part of the Team Nottingham 'crew' (pictured below). And it went well - we had a great Indian meal on Tuesday night - and hosted a drinks party for nearly 300 people on the harbour in the port of Cannes on Wednesday
.
We have pressed the flesh with developers, investors and occupiers together with countless fellow professionals - from the UK, Europe and beyond.
My impression of MIPIM this year was that it was quieter - that there are very few cities with 'flash' displays (aka yachts). The cities that do occupy the Palais De Festivals seem to be from the Eastern Block!
We went with a great team - but on a no frills, no nonsense basis. We had a consistent message to play out - that despite the city not being able to attend as it has for the last few years the private sector still values MIPIM. On more than one occasion last week I was told that this is 'The Big Society' being played out.
We took with us Lorraine Baggs from Invest in Nottingham and she, along with Mike Taylor from Nottingham Regeneration Limited have been able to sell the city without favouring any of the private sector partners.
So, without putting too fine a point on it - Nottingham is still very much open for business - that's not changed. But perhaps the emphasis will be on the private sector for the next few years!
Come and see us in Nottingham - we have 'leccy and mains gas and drains. And it's not so high up that you'll get a nosebleed....
