Know your place
The public sector was out in force at last week's MIPIM property trade fair, but not everyone was impressed, notes Dougal Paver.
MIPIM is for the big boys - a global trade fair and exhibition attracting serious money and serious players from across the world. They go to trade ideas, buildings, relationships and capital and, even in these sober times, there was business to be done.
Property Week rather sniffily asks what Lincoln, Irvine, Derby and other county towns were doing there in that context. Fine for the big cities like Liverpool, Manchester, Brum and London, it suggests, but Irvine?
Giles Barrie, its editor, might well have argued that the dear little loves should have stayed at home where they belong. Indeed, he almost did.
But that poses the question why should they? Where does the dividing line sit between having a legitimate global brand or aspiration and mere civic chutzpah? At what point is it realistic for cities like Derby to compete for major inward investment?
Well, if I was in Derby I'd point to their huge Toyota plant and say "done it before, can do it again", before sticking a few gentle fingers up in the direction of the naysayers.
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