Walsall joins region to take “UK Growth Starts Here” message to UKREiiF 2026

This year Walsall will once again join the West Midlands region when it attends the UK Real Estate, Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) in May.

The West Midlands will position itself as central to the UK’s growth over the next decade, presenting a clear message to investors and decision-makers that growth in the UK starts right here in the West Midlands.

Walsall Council’s Executive Director for Economy, Environment and Communities, Dave Brown, will be representing Walsall alongside Simon Tranter, Director of Economy and Growth, and Mark McFadden, Head of Investment and Development.

Dave Brown said: “We are looking forward to standing alongside our West Midlands partners and showcasing the wealth of opportunities that the region has to offer at UKREiiF this year. As a borough undergoing major regeneration, strengthened by high levels of investment and collaboration, Walsall is a vital contributor to the region’s future growth story.

“From unlocking strategic development sites to delivering new homes, improving connectivity and supporting thriving district centres, Walsall is helping to shape the momentum that is driving the West Midlands forward. UKREiiF provides the perfect platform to champion that ambition, highlight our investment-ready opportunities, and reinforce the message that UK growth starts here.”

Speaking at a special ‘West Midlands at UKREiiF’ event, Neil Rami, Chief Executive of the West Midlands Growth Company said: 

“From record levels of housing delivery to major connectivity projects that are redefining how people and businesses move across the country, the West Midlands is shaping the next chapter of the UK’s economic future.

“Nowhere else combines this scale of regeneration, infrastructure investment and population growth with the strength of partnership we are delivering across the region. With over £1 billion secured to unlock development, and an unmatched level of collaboration between public and private sector partners, we are demonstrating what coordinated regional leadership can achieve for UK plc.”

UKREiiF is a major event in the UK real estate calendar, with thousands of industry professionals attending each year. The West Midlands will be showcasing more than £20 billion of investment-ready opportunities, supported by circa £2bn of investment funding to accelerate development, at the conference, and reinforcing its message of ‘momentum, delivery and partnership’.

Confirmed speakers include Joanne Roney, managing director, Birmingham City Council; Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands; Greg Clark, executive chair of Warwick Innovation District, the University of Warwick; Rick Houghton, head of AWS Solutions Architecture UK; Murray Paul, director of public affairs, Jaguar Land Rover; Steve Rigby, CEO of Rigby Group; and Nicola Ibbetson, chief business officer at Coventry City Football Club.

Neil Rami said: 

“We’re pleased to have high profile names from both the public and private sector joining us at this year’s conference. Their voices will help show why investors, developers and businesses increasingly recognise that if you want to back the UK’s next decade of growth, it starts in the West Midlands.”

As well as promoting the region’s regeneration opportunities at UKREiiF, the West Midlands delegation will use the event to show how new funding levers, infrastructure investment and convening powers are being mobilised to stimulate the market and support delivery at scale – with further announcements to come.

Recent investment funding announcements include £50m from the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund, £110m from the Mayoral Revolving Growth Fund, up to £1.1bn from the West Midlands Pension Fund, and hundreds of millions from the new City Investment Fund. Combined with existing recyclable investment tools, more than £2bn in total investment capacity will be delivered: £1bn from the WMCA and over £1bn from regional partners.

Ed Cox, chief executive of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), said: 

“We’ve seen a real acceleration in the pace of delivery and investment over the last 12 months with key infrastructure schemes coming to fruition and the unlocking of significant institutional capital.

“This success has been backed by targeted investment from the WMCA and its partners to drive growth that can be felt by all our communities in their everyday lives and quality of life.

“This last year has seen shovels go in the ground at major regeneration schemes like Smithgate in Wolverhampton, Stone Yard in Digbeth and City Centre South in Coventry. We’ve also completed five new rail stations and seen a record number of homes funded with Mayoral investments.

“At UKREiiF we will showcase more than £20bn of regeneration projects that reflect the sheer scale of our ambition and the investment opportunity as we build on this recent momentum.”

Organised by the West Midlands Growth Company, the region’s investment promotion agency, and led by the Mayor of the West Midlands, this year’s delegation attending UKREiiF includes the region’s seven local authorities and a large number of private sector sponsors, including three premier partners: E.ON, Lendlease, and Lovell.