UKREiiF 2025

Glasgow: the Ongoing Role of Innovation in the City’s Transformative Regeneration

Time: 9:30 – 10:30
Location: Scape Public Sector Stage

As Glasgow celebrates its 850th birthday, join key city stakeholders to reflect on how the city has achieved a remarkable transformation through innovation and investment and the role they will continue to play in the next stage of our evolution.

Hosted by Glasgow City Council's Dr Duncan Booker the panel includes:

• James Byrne, Partner, Sustainable Ventures
• Nicola Cameron, Director - Property Joint Ventures, The University of Glasgow
• Angela Rowley, Head of Property & Development, Clyde Gateway
• Kevin Rush, Director of Regional Economic Growth, Glasgow City Region

Reshaping the Civil Service Workforce to Drive Growth

Time: 10:00 - 10:45
Location: UK Government Knowledge Hub

This session will explore how the UK Government is strategically reshaping the Civil Service workforce to create thousands of new opportunities in modern, cross-Department and cross-public sector hubs across all parts of the UK. Susanne Millar, Chief Executive of Glasgow City Council joins the panel.

Investing in Glasgow's Innovation Economy

Time: 11:30 - 12:30
Location: Glasgow stand (C30)

Hosted by Alisdair Gunn, Director and Head of Glasgow City Innovation District, join us for a drop-in session to discuss the investment opportunities and developments that are transforming Glasgow’s Innovation Economy. Learn about the propositions that are positioning Glasgow as the UK’s international hub for innovation aligned to its key industry sectors. Learn about the opportunities to invest in Glasgow’s Innovation Infrastructure that will support the development of Glasgow’s Innovation Ecosystem, Incubator and Co-working Spaces, Innovation Hubs that will support the growth of spinouts , startups and scaleups.

Clyde Gateway Innovation: a coherent and cohesive proposition to connect, collaborate, and create

Time: 14:00 - 14:30
Location: Glasgow stand (C30)

Clyde Gateway Innovation is a market facing, mixed use proposition which includes opportunities for the delivery of investment properties, development land for commercial and residential use and joint ventures for collaboration and partnership working with a total cost of around £500 million.

Come along and find out about the significant provision for commercial business space, high value manufacturing, hotel and residential opportunities for developers and investors.

Driving Targeted Innovation in Scotland 

Time: 14:30 - 15:00
Location: The Queen's Hotel

Led by Connected Places Catapult, this panel brings together voices from across Scotland’s innovation landscape including George Gillespie, Executive Director - Neighbourhoods, Regeneration and Sustainability at Glasgow City Council. Join us to  explore how targeted innovation is being driven across the transport sector to address local challenges and support national priorities. Reserve your place.

Housing Investment Drop-in Session

Time: 15:00 - 16:00
Location: Connected Places Catapult Pavilion

Jennifer Sheddan, Head of Housing, Glasgow City Council will be on hand to discuss residential investment opportunities across all tenures.

Innovation Districts: Catalysts for Economic Growth and Urban Transformation

TIme: 15:00 - 16:00
Location: Connected Places Catapult Pavilion

Alisdair Gunn, Director and Head of Glasgow City Innovation District, joins the panel for this session exploring ow Innovation Districts are reshaping urban economies and driving sustainable inclusive growth.

Unlocking Financing Solutions: How the National Wealth Fund Supports Growth

Time: 10:00 - 11:00
Location: Vera Suite

Kevin Rush, Director of Regional Economic Growth, Glasgow City Region joins this panel session on how the NWF is helping local authorities to finance and deliver ambitious infrastructure projects that tackle climate change and support economic growth.

Growth, Collaboration and Capital: Driving Scotland’s Two Leading Cities

Time: 11:00 - 13:00
Location: JLL Pavillion

Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, will join the panel to examine how Scotland's largest cities are attracting capital for investment in infrastructure, housing and regeneration. Glasgow and Edinburgh are leveraging their own unique opportunities while also capitalising on their united strengths. This approach reveals significant opportunities and enhanced attractiveness to investors through shared common goals.

Investment Drop-in Session

Time: 11:00 - 12:00
Location: Team Scotland Pavilion

Drop-in to discuss investment opportunities with representatives from the Glasgow delegation. 

Accelerating Regional Growth: Strategic Partnerships and the National Wealth Fund

Time: 12:00 - 13:00
Location: National Wealth Fund @ Vera Suite

Susanne Millar, Chief Executive of Glasgow City Council joins this panel to explore the transformative potential of these new Strategic Partnerships and their pivotal role in driving regional development.

Urban Regeneration and the Journey to Net Zero

Time: 12:00 - 13:00
Location: Shepherd & Wedderburn Pavilion

Panel session debating the challenges and opportunities in delivering major infrastructure projects within the current public policy context, while exploring innovative strategies to align urban regeneration with sustainability goals and the path to net zero emissions. Martin McKay, Chief Executive of Clyde Gateway, shares his experience and expertise.

Building Trust with Communities – the Value of Developing with a Conscience

Time: 12:30 - 13:30
Location: Industry in Focus Pavilion

With development involving so many complex agendas and voices, this session will explore how we strike the right balance between commercial viability, environmental priorities, governance requirements and most importantly building the trust of the communities involved. David McEwan, Divisional Director - Glasgow City Council, joins the conversation.

Scotland's Knowledge Economy - Spotlight on Life Sciences and Advanced Manufacturing

Time: 13:30 - 14:30
Location: Team Scotland Pavilion

One of Europe’s largest life sciences clusters, Scotland truly punches above its weight. And, increaingly, advanced manufacturing is underpinning these life sciences success. Join us as we explore how Scotland’s life sciences and advanced manufacturing sectors, bolstered by our world-leading universities, are driving growth, and creating employment and investment opportunities. With an introduction given by Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader, Glasgow City Council. 

"A Sporting Chance" for Place

Time 14:00 - 15:00
Location: Dockside Pavilion

Thought leaders representing a multitude of global sporting entities discuss the importance of their clubs to the places in which they exist and share ideas on how sport and investment goes hand in hand. As Glasgow prepares to reprise its role as host city, hear from Phil Batty OBE, Chief Executive Officer of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on the relationship between sport and cities.

Networking with Team Glasgow

Time: 16:00 – 18:00
Location: Glasgow Stand (NDH C30)

Join Team Glasgow on stand for drinks and informal networking. With support from Graham & Sibbald. 

The Feminist City: A gender-inclusive and responsive approach to urban planning and design

Time: 11:00 - 12:00 
Location: Glasgow Stand (NDH C30)

This panel discussion will explore how urban areas can be designed to be responsive to the needs of all women, creating safer, healthier, fairer and more enriching spaces for everyone. 

Panellists will include Sarah Shaw, Head of Planning at Glasgow City Council and Mairi Laverty, Director of Collective Architecture. The session will be facilitated by Jillian Hardie from Arup.

Investment Drop-in Session

Time: 11:00 - 12:00
Location: Team Scotland Pavilion

Drop-in to discuss investment opportunities with representatives from the Glasgow delegation. 

Protecting Investments: Devising Strategies to Reduce and Delay Costs

Time: 11:45 - 12:30
Location: Pagabo Live Paviliion

What are the most common causes of project delays in 2025? How are different areas of the built environment ecosystem negating supply chain disruptions, labour shortages and regulatory hurdles? Help devise the most robust procurement strategies and performance measuring metrics as part of this interactive session. With input from Ben Wilson, Divisional Director, Development & Regeneration - Glasgow City Council.