PARTNERS

SUPPORTERS

& VENUES

We are extremely grateful to all partners for their support, which continues to ensure the Festival’s sustainability and success.

VENUE PARTNERS

Headline Partner

De Montfort University has played a pivotal role in the city’s business community since it was founded in 1860. The university works alongside companies to provide professional development courses, develop product ideas and identify commercial opportunities. DMU aims to be the business partner of choice for companies looking to develop and grow in Leicestershire. It has been transformed with a £136 million reimagining of the campus that has created a modern, inspiring environment and is a bold statement of confidence in the university and the city.

www.dmu.ac.uk

Partners

East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) is the biggest business-representation organisation in the Midlands, with about 4,200 members. It is the go-to place for answers.

It represents businesses of all sizes and across all sectors through a diverse range of activities from providing essential support, training and staff development at all levels, apprenticeships, international trade documentation, trade missions, international student placement, digital growth programmes, delivering the Collaborate programme in Leicestershire and D2 Business Starter Programme in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, delivering superfast broadband initiatives across all three counties and South Yorkshire, data gathering and analysis, advising businesses about Brexit and providing guidance on opportunities such as Heathrow expansion, HS2 and the fourth industrial revolution, working alongside academia and employers to close the skills gap, campaigning and lobbying, and more – always with the needs of business foremost.

Members also benefit from a range of opportunities to network and showcase their products and services.

www.emc-dnl.co.uk

Supporters

“As a local independent family business, we’re delighted to be involved with the Leicester Business Festival. We strive to nurture local talent with our own team and working with independent business owners running their own pubs.

Everards are proud to be from Leicestershire, a reason why we have beers dedicated to local landmarks, people or folklore and we aim to promote the region’s strengths whenever possible. We are currently investing in our new Leicestershire home including new brewery, offices and beer hall and cycle hub and café at Everards Meadows next to Fosse Park.

We look forward to continuing our support for the region through working with other local businesses, supporting business owners and continuing our partnerships with great local attractions such as Leicester Tigers, Leicester Riders and The Curve as well as the Leicester Business Festival.” Stephen Gould, Managing Director

www.everards.co.uk

The Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF), supported by the European Regional Development Fund, is an initiative launched by the government-owned British Business Bank.

MEIF is a collaboration between the British Business Bank and ten Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) in the West Midlands and East and South East Midlands.

It provides over £250m of commercially focussed finance through Small Business Loans, Debt Finance, Proof of concept and Equity Finance funds and is a key part of the government's vision aimed at boosting the region's economy and supporting the growth of smaller businesses. These investment options are designed to plug common gaps in the provision of finance, giving businesses access to much needed funding.

The government firmly believes that SMEs form the foundation of the region's future growth. MEIF therefore aims to nurture regional entrepreneurship by providing investment and support for small businesses. MEIF's funding will support new and growing SMEs, create jobs and encourage and attract additional private sector investment.

www.meif.co.uk

Highcross opened its doors in September 2008 in the heart of Leicester City Centre. Highcross has over 100 shops and 35 cafes and restaurants providing 104,900 m² of retailing across two retail levels, integrated into the city centre. Alongside John Lewis, Highcross has major stores such as Urban Outfitters, Zara, Apple, Topshop and Reiss and premium retail and leisure brands, Hugo Boss and Cinema de Lux.

In addition to the retail offer, the public square and external spaces, Highcross offers a dining and leisure destination with Treetop Adventure Golf, Social Cimbing, Tamatanga, Wagamama, Friday’s and Turtle Bay.

www.highcrossleicester.com

Voluntary Action LeicesterShire (VAL) provides advice, support and training to
charities and community groups across Leicester and Leicestershire.

With around 2,400 registered charities and an estimated 3,800 grassroots
community organisations across the city and county, we help charities to reach their
potential and continue delivering vital services within local communities.

Since 2016 VAL has delivered two employability projects, funded by the European
Social Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund. These partnership projects –
the YES (Youth Employability Support) Project and the GREAT (Getting Ready for
Work and Training) Project – aim to help those furthest from the labour market to
overcome physical and social barriers and find work, training and education.

For over 20 years the VALUES project in VAL has provided people with learning
disabilities in Leicester and Leicestershire the opportunity to learn new skills, make
friends and have fun. VALUES clients can pay with their Personal Budgets and are
able to choose from a huge range of activities. The service currently employs dozens
of support workers to support over 130 clients with hundreds of activities every week.

www.valonline.org.uk

An Embark CSR initiative part of the Leicester Business Festival

Leicester Giving Day is a simple but impactful initiative that will enable companies and educational establishments in Leicester and Leicestershire to showcase their philanthropic support for charities and local communities. I

t will encourage participating organisations to set aside one day in the year to reflect on what they already do, or to do more, to help those groups in the city and county that provide vital services to help people in need. It is also a day when invited charities and social enterprises can showcase their work to the general public in ‘charity hubs’ that will be set up in the city.

Companies and schools will be encouraged and supported leading up to the day to enable their employees and pupils to raise money for the charity of their choice, or to offer practical, in kind, support.

BECOME A BUSINESS FESTIVAL PARTNER

Becoming a Business Festival partner has numerous benefits, including unparalleled exposure, guaranteed value for money, access to new business leads as well as importantly, demonstrating a real commitment to the local business community.

No matter what size, any business or organisation can get involved. Each partnership is bespoke and tailored to suit individual requirements, to ensure partners get the most out of their arrangement with the Business Festival and see a substantial return on their investment that is aligned with their strategic business objectives.

For more information or an informal discussion on how to become a Business Festival partner, contact Ian Morris on 0116 464 5995

VENUE

PARTNERS

The Business Festival works with venue partners who can offer free or discounted space to event organisers to hold their events during the festival fortnight. In doing so, venue partners can maximise their exposure to the business community and demonstrate a true commitment to collaborative working and investment in our city and county.

To become an LBF venue partner, contact us on 0116 464 5995 or email hello@leicesterbusinessfestival.com

To enquire about using an LBF venue, please get in touch with the venue directly. See contact details below.