The same is true for Swansea Council, with whom we’re working in a 20-year strategic partnership. We had a working lunch with the Swansea team and caught up with a number of large scale investors who were interested in the city’s ongoing evolution. We also attended a presentation and reception hosted by Swansea Council, where the Council’s Chief Executive spoke about Swansea’s role in driving the wider growth and regeneration ambitions for South West Wales.

Sheffield also had a strong presence, bringing forward proposals that align with our own ambitions in the city at new developments like the fourth and fifth phases of homes at Park Hill and our designs for the former Cole Brothers department store. It’s clear that momentum is building, and that cities like Sheffield are ready to lean into their potential.

But what stood out most for me this year was the involvement of my own colleagues in this discourse. Across the three days, I was proud to see so many of them not only attending but shaping the agenda. Sian Stanhope, who leads our work in Sheffield, contributed to a fantastic DeSimone x Place North roundtable, where she shared insights on heritage-led regeneration and the role of public-private partnerships.

Suzy Jones, our Director of Future – and someone who’s fundamentally reshaping how the way we design for people to live, work and play – took to the stage to discuss the importance of building future-ready communities

Other colleagues, including Guy Ackernley, David Warburton and myself, also had the opportunity to speak across several panels and sessions, sharing what we’re learning as we tackle projects that demand creativity, collaboration, and a genuine focus on people. Meanwhile, our Chairman and founder Tom Bloxham MBE took part in both the UK Housing and Communities Dinner and the BE News roundtable – championing innovation and pushing for continued reform in how we fund, plan and deliver great places.

It was a week of bold ideas and shared ambition. As a business, we came away energised, informed and even more committed to the values that underpin our work – not least the belief that better places create better lives.

UKREiiF reminded us that the challenges facing our sector – from the housing crisis to climate resilience – can only be met through joined-up thinking and brave decisions. But the energy in Leeds showed that the sector is not short of talented people willing to do things differently.

Here’s to the conversations that were sparked, the partnerships that were formed, and the ideas that will shape the months and years ahead. Now it’s time to turn all that talk into action.