Leicester’s elected Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby praised De Montfort University’s “major commitment” to the city represented by the new Leicester Castle Business School.
Sir Peter’s comments came during the opening ceremony of the Leicester Business Festival, for which the business school is headline sponsor. The festival will run for two weeks with more than 100 events showcasing businesses across the city and county.
He said: “The business school is a major commitment by DMU to Leicester, Leicestershire and to the wider economy. I think it is going to be an important part of helping us to promote, to understand and to cherish the economy of our city and county.
“We know that this festival gives us an opportunity to celebrate who we are as a city and county, to celebrate and face the future with confidence. We can deliver real change and real growth.”
DMU is spending £4.2million on restoring Leicester Castle, parts of which date from the 12th century. It will be home to the business school with internationally-renowned experts in finance, business, leadership and industry teaching students and consulting for corporate clients from around the world.
Its principal, Professor Dana Brown, said she was proud that LCBS was sponsoring such an important event in the business calendar.
She told business people gathered at today’s launch: “We are committed to helping businesses in Leicester and Leicestershire to thrive. I’m really looking forward to an exciting two weeks ahead.”
Keynote speaker was Sir John Peace, the chief executive of luxury goods brand Burberry and the chairman of Midlands Engine, a partnership of universities, businesses, colleges and the public sector to drive up productivity and growth in the Midlands.
Seven universities - De Montfort University Leicester (DMU), Birmingham City University, Coventry University, University of Derby, University of Lincoln, Nottingham Trent University and the University of Wolverhampton – have collaborated to support jobs and wealth creation in the region.
He said: “The Midlands is the largest economy outside of London, bigger than Scotland. We need to tear down the barriers, drive prosperity and tackle the massive skills shortages which blight our businesses. This can only be achieved by universities, colleges and businesses working together.
“To be successful the UK must focus more on the regions and reduce reliance on London and the South East. Our rivals are not the north and south of the UK, but New York and Frankfurt. We can help the government to create a better, more balanced UK.
“The UK should be seen as a beacon on free and fair trade across the globe.”
Alister de Ternant, co-chair of the Leicester Business Festival, said new research forecast that by 2019, the Leicestershire economy was set to generate £27.2billion a year.
Posted on Monday 24 October 2016