Tue 19th May

08:00 - 09:15

Wide Awake. Bradford, A City with Momentum.

Bradford’s regeneration is a journey shaped by longterm thinking, practical delivery and growing confidence.
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David Shepherd, Strategic Director for Growth, Bradford Council and Alex Depledge MBE, Entrepreneurship Advisor to HM Treasury, offer a focused discussion on productivity, ambition, the realities of growth and why Bradford is shaping its own future, not standing still.
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Supported by Incommunities

Investor Drop-in

An open house session.
A chance to make connections and take a closer look at the 3D model of the Southern Gateway and Bradford’s plans for rail.

10:00 - 11:00

Team Bradford Up Close

Meet the people behind the progress.
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Team Bradford, the experts driving growth forward, share what’s happening on the ground. From Pride in Place and Towns Transformation to transport, communities and identity, this is a chance to connect with the
team shaping the next phase of growth.

11:00 - 12:30

Private roundtable

Film and TV as a catalyst for UK growth – The role of studios and production in place-based
regeneration

This roundtable brings together industry leaders, policymakers and local authorities to examine how studio and related infrastructure can anchor regeneration, drive job creation and build resilient creative economies. Stace’s work at Hartlepool and Shinfield Studios demonstrates how wellplanned campuses can transform
places, while Bradford’s UNESCO City of Film status makes it an ideal host.
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Invite only. Places strictly limited.

Contact lucie.murray@ing-media.com for more information.

Supported by ING

11:15 - 11:45

The Gamechangers: Bradford Rail and Southern Gateway

Bradford is prioritised in Phase 1 of Northern Powerhouse Rail, with a proposed new station and throughline set to transform how the city connects to the North and beyond. This will deliver faster, more reliable journeys while significantly strengthening capacity and resilience across the rail network.
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Get the right station, in the right place, with the right connections and this gamechanging investment opens up the Southern Gateway, one of the UK’s largest regeneration opportunities, effectively doubling the size of Bradford city centre.
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Hear from Richard Hollinson, Assistant Director for Planning Transport & Highways at Bradford Council and Niall Bourke, Director at Arup.

12:15 - 13:45

CURRY EXPERIENCE LUNCH

Join Bradford Council and other Team Bradford partners including Arup, Balfour Beatty, Incommunities and Schofield Sweeney for a Bradford curry experience!
‍
Invite only.

Contact growth@bradford.co.uk for more information.

15:15 - 16:30

Saying the Wrong Thing – Rebalancing the Working World

Join Women in Property and Women in Architecture for an interactive ‘Fishbowl’ discussion exploring the shifting landscape of equity and inclusion across the built environment, and why many now feel unsure of
their place.

A rotating empty chair invites audience participation to share experiences, examine the
disconnect in EDI, and explore how we can rebuild connection and collaboration across the industry, kindly hosted by Team Bradford.

15:15 - 16:45

Private roundtable

Place Based Impact Investment Network

UKREiiF get-together for Place Based Impact Investment Network members and guests.
‍
Invite only.

Details via Sam Monger sammonger@thegoodeconomy.co.uk

Wed 20th May

08:00 - 09:15

Bradford. Built Different.

Dr Lorraine O'Donnell, Chief Executive, Bradford Council sets out the next phase for the District.
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From core city ambition to major infrastructure and housing delivery, with Built Different, our 10-year plan for regeneration and growth, we have a clear view of Bradford’s plans for the next decade. Expect detail on
priorities, partnerships and how delivery is being structured to move at pace through seven gamechanging projects.
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Supported by Arup.

09:30 - 12:00

Investor Drop-in

An open house session.
A chance to make connections and take a closer look at the 3D model of the Southern Gateway and Bradford’s plans for rail.

11:00 - 12:00

Meet Dr Lorraine O’Donnell, Chief Executive at Bradford Council

Meet Bradford Council’s Chief Executive, leading the organisation and District through a defining new era of
growth, regeneration and change.

12:15 - 13:45

CURRY EXPERIENCE LUNCH

Join Bradford Council and other Team Bradford partners including Arup, Balfour Beatty, Incommunities and Schofield Sweeney for a Bradford curry experience!
‍
Invite only.

Contact growth@bradford.co.uk for more information.

13:30 - 14:00

Bradford’s Role in the Northern Growth Strategy

Scale, ambition and potential put Bradford firmly at the heart of Northern growth. Tom Riordan, Northern Envoy, HM Treasury, discusses the District’s growing role in shaping the Northern Growth Strategy.

14:00 - 15:00

Private roundtable

Northern Powerhouse Partnership (NPP)

Henri Murison, Chief Executive at Northen Powerhouse Partnership, Alex Depledge MBE, Entrepreneurship
Advisor to HM Treasury and David Shepherd, Strategic Director Growth at Bradford Council, are amongst
the attendees.
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This is a private event.

15:00 – 16:00

Investor Drop-in

An open house session.
A chance to make connections and take a closer look at the 3D model of the Southern Gateway and Bradford’s plans for rail.

15:15 - 16:45

Private roundtable

The UK’s Most Talked About Cities – UK Cities Knowledge Exchange with Ing

Launching the UK’s Most Talked About Cities 2026, this roundtable discussion will explore how the digital
visibility landscape is shifting, and what cities must do to stand out in an increasingly crowded space.

Co-hosted with Bradford Council and building on the UK City of Culture - Bradford 2025, this event will bring together city leaders to discuss the power of place, people and creativity in driving long term prosperity of
places.
‍
Invite only. Places strictly
limited. 

Contact lucie.murray@ing-media.com for more information.

Supported by ING

Thu 21st May

08:00 - 09:15

Culture: Driving What Comes Next

2025 was a big year for Bradford.
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Shanaz Gulzar, Creative Director at Bradford Culture Company and Team Bradford reflect on the legacy of our year as the UK City of Culture 2025 and what culture-led regeneration actually looks like.
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With a year of stories, people, and experiences, we'll talk through how this has changed how our District feels, functions, and is perceived.
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Supported by Balfour Beatty.

09:30 - 12:00

Investor Drop-in

An open house session.
A chance to make connections and take a closer look at the 3D model of the Southern Gateway and Bradford’s plans for rail.

10:00 - 11:00

Meet Dr Lorraine O’Donnell, Chief Executive at Bradford Council

Meet Bradford Council’s Chief Executive, leading the organisation and District through a defining new era of
growth, regeneration and change.

11:30 - 12:00

Two Cities, One Engine: A European Powerhouse

If you’re still looking at Bradford and Leeds as two separate dots on a map, you’re missing the scale of the opportunity.

This 1.4-million-person engine sits in the same league as Milan, Amsterdam and Stockholm.
Picking up where we left off in 2025, Dr Lorraine O'Donnell, Chief Executive, Bradford Council, and Ed Whiting, Chief Executive, Leeds City Council are looking at what happens when cities come together, creating a new geography of power to drive growth for the UK.

12:15 - 13:45

CURRY EXPERIENCE – FINALE LUNCH

Join Bradford Council and partners including Arup, Balfour Beatty, Incommunities and Schofield Sweeney for a finale lunch to say thank you, wrap up UKREiiF 2026, and reflect on the week.

We’ll also look ahead
to what’s next for Bradford, what’s moving into 2027 and where the opportunities are.
Supported by Schofield Sweeney.
‍
Invite only.

Contact growth@bradford.co.uk for more information.