MIPIM: How SMEs are transforming the North of England

At this Place North panel session, local authorities and developers highlighted the ability of small and medium-sized businesses to innovate, build community support, and deliver projects that respond directly to local needs.

Expert speakers

Aidan Thatcher, director, Wigan Council

Nick Mullins, co-founder, Axis-RE

Pam Smith, chief executive, Newcastle City Council

Nick Gerard, director of growth and prosperity, Blackpool Council

Cllr Anthony Burns, Leader, St Helens Council

Chaired by: Julia Hatmaker, editor, Place North West

The discussion explored the role of SMEs – independent occupiers and developers – in placemaking and the hurdles they face.

In Wigan, director Aidan Thatcher pointed to the work of The Heaton Group, a local developer delivering a major mill redevelopment in the town centre. The scheme will create workspace, housing and leisure, but Thatcher emphasised that the impact goes beyond the physical development.

“John Heaton is a real advocate for the town and is putting his money where his mouth is,” he said. “It’s not just about creating a new community, it’s about creating jobs for local people and services for residents.”

He added that the developer has also launched networking initiatives for local firms, demonstrating how SMEs can help build social infrastructure alongside regeneration projects.

A similar theme is emerging in St Helens, where Cllr Burns highlighted the redevelopment of the former Parkside Colliery. Working in partnership with Langtree, the council is transforming the large brownfield site into an advanced manufacturing hub.

For Cllr Burns, the project represents more than economic development. “For too many years we were an area with limited aspiration and high unemployment,” he said. “Now we’re transforming a former colliery into something we can be really proud of.” Crucially, Langtree’s chief executive previously worked at the colliery, providing a personal connection to the site’s history and the surrounding community.

Innovation and green growth

In Newcastle upon Tyne, SMEs are also helping to anchor emerging industries.

Council chief executive Pam Smith highlighted the growth of “green unicorn” hydrogen technology firm GeoPura, which manufactures mobile hydrogen power units. The company has already supplied clean energy systems to film productions including Bridgerton, where quiet power generation is essential on set.

Supported by Siemens Energy, GeoPura is scaling rapidly while creating local apprenticeships and championing green energy in commercial applications.

Smith believes SMEs like GeoPura represent the future of regional economies. “They can innovate faster and create new pathways into employment,” she said. “They’re rooted in their communities but operating in industries that will define the future.” She did, however, highlight that this SME in particular benefits from the backing of big industry.

Unlocking stalled sites

Developers also argued that SMEs are often better positioned to unlock complex regeneration opportunities.

Nick Mullins, co-founder of Axis-RE, highlighted a major project in Lancaster, where the firm and partner Marco Living are regenerating a three-acre former brewery site within the city’s Canal Quarter masterplan. The site remained derelict for decades despite previous ownership by larger property companies.

“Those larger organisations could afford to sit on the land and wait,” Mullins said. “For us, being a regional SME with local connections means we’re committed to getting the project delivered.”

The plans include a mix of hotel, healthcare, mobility hubs, cultural uses and business space, alongside the restoration of listed buildings. Mullins said the project’s progress was driven by close collaboration with the council, local cultural organisations and heritage stakeholders.

Supporting small business growth

For many councils, regeneration strategies increasingly include direct support for SMEs.

In Blackpool, director of growth and prosperity Nick Gerrard highlighted The Robinson, a workspace created through the government’s Town Deal programme. Developed within locally listed buildings, the centre provides around 40 small units designed for startups and microbusinesses.

“We want to nurture those small companies and give them the support framework to grow,” Gerrard said. “The big companies we talk about today all started as small businesses.”

The initiative also draws on the town’s historic entrepreneurial culture. Blackpool was home to some of the earliest electric light displays in the UK, which later evolved into the world-famous Blackpool Illuminations.

The value of local connection

Across the panel, speakers agreed that SMEs often bring a stronger commitment to place than large national developers.

According to Thatcher, local firms are more likely to secure community buy-in because residents can see that developers have a personal stake in the town’s future. “They’re invested in the place,” he said. “People can see that they’re doing something for the community.” Burns added that SMEs can also be more flexible partners for local authorities, particularly during large regeneration programmes.

In St Helens, the council is currently rebuilding two town centres simultaneously, a process that requires close collaboration and the ability to adapt plans as economic conditions change. “When you’ve got those relationships, you can pick up the phone and work through problems together,” he said.

Building the regional ecosystem

Despite their importance, panelists acknowledged that SMEs often struggle to access public sector opportunities due to complex procurement frameworks.

Mullins argued that traditional procurement models frequently favour large organisations with the financial scale to meet strict requirements. However, councils are exploring ways to bring SMEs more directly into projects, including breaking large contracts into smaller packages and encouraging major contractors to engage local supply chains.

Smith said local authorities can also act as connectors, introducing SMEs to partners, investors and other firms within regional ecosystems: “Businesses are busy running their own operations,” she said. “Sometimes they need someone to help join the dots.”

For many speakers, the conclusion was clear: while large corporations remain important, SMEs will continue to shape the identity and economic resilience of towns and cities across the North.

“They are the lifeblood of our economies,” Smith said. “And if we want sustainable, innovative places, we need to champion them.”