Invest Gatwick Diamond has reported a successful largest ever presence to date at UKREiiF 2026 after supporting a coordinated Gatwick Region delegation alongside London Gatwick Airport and hosting a regional investment breakfast in Leeds.
The Gatwick Region delegation attended the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) from 19 to 21 May 2026, bringing together public and private sector organisations from across the Gatwick Region Airport Economic Zone (GRAEZ). Invest Gatwick Diamond, through Gatwick Diamond Business, acted as Associate Headline Partner in support of London Gatwick Airport’s sponsorship of the regional presence.
The biggest ever Gatwick Region delegation boasted a unique blend of universities, local authorities and businesses. It formed part of ongoing work to promote the Gatwick Region Airport Economic Zone as a coordinated economic area with London Gatwick Airport at its heart. The GRAEZ framework brings together development sites, infrastructure assets and employment locations across local authority boundaries under a shared regional identity.
The program highlighted regional AI investment prospects through a dedicated fringe session – part of London Tech Week – evaluated emerging interest for prospective trade and investment delegations,and facilitated advanced partnership discussions with prominent property and advisory consultancies.
Brett North, Executive Director of Gatwick Diamond Business, said: “This year’s UKREiiF showed how much momentum the Gatwick Region has built by working together. We had our largest delegation to date, strong engagement throughout the event and productive conversations with investors, developers and delivery partners.
“People want to understand where growth is happening and how projects can move forward. Having one coordinated regional presence helped us explain the scale of opportunity across the Gatwick Region and the Gatwick Region Airport Economic Zone in a much clearer way.”
The 2026 programme included a dedicated Gatwick Region Networking Breakfast fringe event at Café 212, Brewery Wharf, on 20 May. The event focused on investment opportunities across the Gatwick Region Airport Economic Zone, including commercial development, infrastructure projects and the region’s role in quantum computing.
Speakers included Brett North, Executive Director of Gatwick Diamond Business, Emma Hatch, Development Director at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, and Nick Humfrey, Head of Inclusive Growth at Sussex & Brighton Strategic Authority. The breakfast attracted over 50 attendees from across the property, investment and infrastructure sectors.
Sally Brown, Managing Director of Gatwick Diamond Business, said: “UKREiiF gives the Gatwick Region an opportunity to present itself on a national stage and show what can be achieved when businesses, councils and regional partners work together.
“The response to this year’s programme demonstrated the level of interest in the region’s investment opportunities and growth plans. Our members want to see long-term investment translated into jobs, infrastructure and commercial development across the Gatwick Diamond.”
UKREiiF is attended by local authorities, developers, investors, occupiers and infrastructure organisations from across the UK. The Gatwick Region programme included a regional stand presence, networking activity and meetings with organisations involved in investment, regeneration and development projects.
Invest Gatwick Diamond and its regional partners will continue engagement with organisations met during UKREiiF 2026 as part of ongoing inward investment and development activity across the Gatwick Region. Further information about the Gatwick Region Airport Economic Zone and future partnership opportunities is available from Gatwick Diamond Business.
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