Now the dust has settled, it’s time to look back at one of 2025’s highlights for the Pearl Comms team: UKREiiF 2025 in Leeds.  

To summarise an event which attracted 16,000 property and real estate pros to Leeds over the course of its three days is no mean feat, but we’ll give it a go: rewarding, enlightening and tiring. UKREiiF is an endurance test but the benefits are great and the conversations and connections made over the week are absolutely invaluable.  

Here are the Pearl Comms team’s top takeaways from this year’s event: 

Plan, but remember to be flexible 

UKREiiF’s schedule of panels and events is vast, almost threateningly so. With such a variety of interesting talks on offer, it can be tempting to try and plan your days with military precision. In reality, by the time you’ve walked from tent to conference room across the Armouries (why are they never close to each other?) and bumped into a handful of acquaintances along the way, your days can quickly disappear. Often, the most beneficial and enjoyable parts of the conference are the off-the-cuff chats, so make sure you factor in suitable time for them, and for a rest to recharge the batteries.  

Be generous with your network 

UKREiiF is a networker’s dream and meeting connections old and new is almost more important than attending the panels themselves. Your connections should (hopefully!) be introducing you to people they know so you can expand your network – make sure you do the same too. A well-timed introduction at a networking event can be all it takes to come back with a red-hot lead or some confirmed new business.  

Don’t forget the fringe 

While the conference is a huge draw, there are plenty of people who head up to Leeds for the week without even buying a ticket, preferring to rely on the fringe to get their networking fill. Whether you’re an early morning run club fan, or a night owl, there are plenty of drinks receptions and other events to fill the hours outside UKREiiF itself. Fringe events are invite-only for the most part, so it’s certainly worth reaching out to anyone you think may be holding one ahead of time to make sure your name’s on the list.  

Content is king 

Attending so many panel discussions and events over the course of the week gives a huge opportunity to boost your own social media content generation. We’re not saying you have to become a UKREiiF tiktokker, but writing a punchy summary of an event you’ve attended, tagging the speakers and uploading a picture or two is a brilliant way to engage with your network.  

Book early 

Unless you live in Leeds or West Yorkshire, going to UKREiiF can’t really be a last-minute decision. The city’s hotels and restaurants book up months in advance – some companies even sort their logistics before the previous year’s event has wrapped up – so you need to plan ahead. If you don’t manage to get somewhere to stay in the city centre, cast the net a bit wider. There are some decent accommodation options a little further afield.  

Consider your company’s marketing approach 

Walking around UKREiiF is like a ‘who’s who’ of the property and real estate world and you’ll see brands big and small taking advantage of the many sponsorship opportunities available. But once you’ve decided that you want to put some marketing spend behind your presence at UKREiiF, choosing the right package can seem daunting. Do you sponsor a panel? Secure some speaker slots? Or even take a whole marquee? Whichever route you choose, make sure you understand exactly what you’re getting and what the benefits will be in terms of marketing, networking opportunities and brand exposure.  

This list isn’t exhaustive by any means and above all, UKREiiF is one of the most valuable events in the annual property and real estate calendar. If you’d like to chat more to us about what to expect and how you can make the most of the event, then do get in touch.  

Hope to see you at the Royal Armouries next year, or even throwing some shapes on the dancefloor at the LGBT+ disco…