More than 100 businesses and public sector leaders got to see inside Leicester's newest office buildings at Great Central Square to mark the start of the fifth Leicester Business Festival (LBF) fortnight.
The development by Charles Street Buildings opened its doors especially for the launch today (Monday 28 October). This year's festival will see 115 events take place across the city and county to promote inward investment, share ideas and showcase the diverse talent and innovation in Leicester and Leicestershire.
Pictured, from left: James Phillips, APB; Sir Peter Soulsby, City Mayor; Alicia Porter, Fruity Beauties; Helen Donnellan, DMU; Helen Miller LLEP Business Gateway; Luke Tobin, Digital Ethos; Scott Charlish, Brewin Dolphin; Alister de Ternant, Associate Events
This year's programme includes events by the Department for International Trade that aim to forge trading links between Leicestershire and Chinese businesses; a showcase of funders and business support providers and the launch of the new tourism strategy for the city and county.
It is the fifth year the Leicester Business Festival has been running and since it began, it has seen 576 events, 36,148 attendees – more than a quarter of whom come from outside the region.
Helen Donnellan, Director of Business Engagement at DMU, said: “It has been so exciting to see how the Leicester Business Festival has grown and flourished over the past five years. It has created a real sense of shared purpose in the business community to promote the city and county, helped us share our success and raise the profile of Leicestershire as a great place to do business. At DMU, we have seen first-hand how it has led to collaborations and new projects and partnerships for our academics and entrepreneurial students.
“The support received by Leicester Castle Business School from businesses in the festival enabled us to provide incredible opportunities for our students and get to know what issues local companies were facing. DMU is committed to being a part of the business community and that’s why we are proud to be a sponsor for the next three years.”
Leicester Castle Business School at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) has been the headline partner for the past three years. DMU will be continuing the partnership for the next three years, along with the East Midlands Chamber and the LLEP Business Gateway.
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Scott Charlish head of East Midlands financial planning at Brewin Dolphin and chair of the LBF Steering Group spoke at the launch event this morning. He told the audience: “There’s an absolutely outstanding array of events in this year’s festival. These include presentations which look at futuristic transport themes such as flying taxis and also events which look into opportunities to become part of the NHS clinical data supply chain. Diversity in the workplace is also investigated via a DMU programme and there are workshops teaching social media engagement tactics. There really is something for everyone.
“It’s also very fitting that the business festival should launch in Great Central Square, Leicester’s newest office development, representing the continued growth of the regional economy.”
Joseph Murphy, Director, at Charles Street Buildings, said: “Great Central Square is Leicester’s newest Prime Grade A Office Accommodation and is now ready for occupation. We, as the developer, are delighted to be able to showcase the building by hosting the launch of the 2019 Leicester Business Festival kicking off the fortnight of events.”
Tickets to Leicester Business Festival events, where available, are bookable via its website.
The LBF headline partner is Leicester Castle Business School. Partners are East Midlands Chamber, East Midlands Airport, LLEP Business Gateway and sponsors are Brewin Dolphin, Pattersons Commercial Law, FSB, Shakespeare Martineau and Eileen Richards Recruitment. The Festival is also supported by Everards Brewery, Harborough District Council, Bradgate Estates, Team Leicester, Highcross Leicester, Business Central, Growth Partners, Mindera and the Nachural Entrepreneurship Awards.
Posted on Monday 28 October 2019