We’ve spent this past week at UKREiiF, meeting friends, partners and clients from across the industry.
In this article, our colleague George McKimm, an apprentice real estate surveyor from our Manchester team, reflects on his second year at the event.
My second UKREiiF felt bigger and busier than last year, and it was a brilliant chance to get out, meet people and remind the market what HBD is doing. For me, the event is as much about making new connections as it is about reinforcing existing ones – and that mix of conversations is invaluable when you’re early in your career.
I’ve been in the industry for about 2.5 years. I started in property management and investment portfolio work, and my role has evolved into development support, now focusing more on industrial & logistics projects like Wakefield Hub. I’m relishing this shift – every day brings different challenges and new learning opportunities.
Much of my time at UKREiiF was spent catching up with contacts I already know from apprenticeship events and one-to-ones, but I also made a point of attending sessions that broadened my understanding of the market. A highlight was the Tuesday panel, “Beyond the Shed,” which explored how occupiers’ requirements are changing – especially around green clauses and ESG. At HBD we’re already addressing these priorities through schemes like Momentum and our ORIGIN JV with Feldberg Capital, and it was encouraging to see occupier demand for ESG-ready space reflected across the conference.
I also went to an investment breakfast on Wednesday that looked at the macroeconomic picture. The mood felt cautiously positive and, while global risks remain and people are rightly vigilant, industrial and logistics continues to show resilience and remains a favoured asset class for many investors.
One big change this year was scale. UKREiiF felt huge – far more international delegates and overseas investors were in attendance, which raises interesting questions about its position alongside other global events. I’m proud that the North has made this conference its own. Importantly for people like me, the event is accessible, with entry concessions for under‑25s and specific fringe events aimed at apprentices and early‑career professionals. That accessibility matters as it’s how the next generation gets a foot in the door.
I definitely got more out of UKREiiF this year than last. Beyond the panels and briefings, it’s the incidental conversations – the coffee chats, catch-ups and quick introductions – that really move things forward. I left with new contacts, fresh ideas on occupier needs and ESG, and renewed energy to bring back to our projects.