The team behind Team Leicester hope to honour one of their directors when they head out to MIPIM next week.
Mukesh Patel was managing partner of the Leicester office of law firm Freeths and one of three Team Leicester directors.
He died unexpectedly last month at the age of 54, leaving behind a wife and two sons. Several hundred friends, family and colleagues attended his funeral in Great Glen on Monday.
Mr Patel was a highly regarded member of the city business scene and a long-standing attendee of MIPIM, the international property conference which takes place in Cannes each spring.
He and fellow directors Rob McGuinn, who runs the Leicester office of building consultants MDA Consulting, and Richard Osborn, a regional director at Excello Law, founded the Team Leicester partnership in 2017.
Mr McGuinn said: “We are all obviously devastated about Mukesh’s untimely passing but we owe it to our fellow colleagues, partners and sponsors and to Mukesh, to carry on Team Leicester’s great work as one voice for the area, promoting a clear message about Leicester and Leicestershire’s space for growth opportunities at MIPIM.
Richard Osborn said: “Our gala dinner showcase is this year at Grey D’Albion hotel on Wednesday 15 March and will be marking our respect to Mukesh during the evening.
“It always promises to be a great event and this year will be no exception.
“We are expecting some 60 delegates comprising Team Leicester partners and sponsors, their colleagues and guests who are interested in development opportunities, growing their industry networks and doing business in Leicester and Leicestershire.”
A mix of private businesses and public sector representatives will attending the annual four-day international property and construction expo in Cannes, France, under the Team Leicester 2023 umbrella.
Gary Cramp, managing director for the Midlands and North at McLaren Construction said: “McLaren Construction has proudly attended MIPIM and been a part of Team Leicester for a number of years now, and we always see the value in the event itself and being part of a passionate group of professionals who are collaboratively championing Leicester and Leicestershire on a global stage.
“The city and county are a vibrant place to live, work and invest in and we are pleased to be going to France with Team Leicester to share that message.”
Oliver Rayns, managing director at Leicester-based accommodation operator Project Student, said: “As prominent advocates for our home city, Project Student couldn’t be happier to be supporting the growth and ambitions of Team Leicester and attending MIPIM with them this year.
“We believe that Leicester has an abundance of opportunities in the real estate sector and with a strong demand, not met by supply/pipeline, it offers ample potential for further investment.
“Furthermore, we strongly believe that the built environment has heavily contributed towards today’s climate crisis and as a relative newcomer to the sector, Project Student is developing its environmental, social and governance strategy in the coming months to ensure we meet our obligations.
“As such, I am looking forward to speaking with like-minded professionals on how we can work together to achieve a net zero solution within the purpose-built student accommodation industry.”
