The LSEP in conjunction with Skills for Enterprise and Business Link held a Grand Final awards celebration for their ‘Leicester’s Got Enterprising Business Talent’ Competition, at the Belmont House Hotel on 18th March 2009.

The Leicester’s Got Enterprising Business Talent project was designed to encourage and promote enterprise activity within our local community, as part of Enterprise Week.

Throughout this project the LSEP, together with Skills for Enterprise and Business Link sponsored a variety of Dragon’s Den style events for local entrepreneurs to show case their business ideas. The candidates were assessed on the quality of their business plan, their idea and how well they presented their proposal. The winners from each event were awarded £100 prize money and were entered into the Grand Final event.

As a result of the events, 9 successful finalists competed to win the prize fund of £1,000 on the awards evening. There were also runner-up prizes for 2nd and 3rd placed finalists.

The winner of the £1,000 and first place in the Grand Final were “MAPMAN” receiving a cheque for £1,000 presented by Rick Moore, Chair of the LSEP and Kishor Tailor Chief Executive. “MAPMAN” are a group of students from John Cleveland College. Their product iSchool, is a map software system that can be downloaded onto ipods and mobile phones in order to help new students understand their way around schools and colleges.

Kishor Tailor said "These Enterprise events aim to encourage people to explore their entrepreneurial talent either by starting up a new business, creating a social enterprise or cultivating innovate business ideas. I'm thrilled with the overall success of this event and congratulate MAPMAN for their innovative idea".

Second place went to Fiona Hutchinson from “Baby Corner”. Fiona owns a market stall in Leicester Indoor Market selling baby wear and renting products at a very reduced cost in order to help and support parents on low incomes.

Kate Markowska from MK won third place Kate has designed fashionable dual purpose muffler that doubled up as a stylish handbag.

Make your Mark held a Young Enterprise Event, for Leicestershire's potential entrpreneurs at John Cleveland College on 23rd January 2009. 'Ride the Business Bike' provided delegates with intensive simulations of the world at work; developing employability and entrepreneurial skills, including business terminology, team work, strategy, communication and commercial awareness.

The facilitators of the workshop used 'experience-centred' methods including activities on business ideas, identifying markets, sales and marketing, customer retention and competitor analysis. The event included a competition on developing a business idea by ‘pitching’ to a panel of experts, who provided assessment, evaluation and feedback.

South Leicestershire College officially launched the Media Centre of Excellence in Television and Film in Belgrave, Leicester on Friday 5th December 2008.
Funded by the Leicester Shire Economic Partnership (LSEP), the Centre first opened its doors to students back in February 2008, and since then has gone from strength-to-strength, providing a superb learning environment for individuals wishing to move into the film industry, bringing local and international students together.

This exciting, state-of-the-art centre is in the heart of the community and is the home of many other partners and media distributors such as, ITV, Leicester College, Ice Media and ARY Media and many more. The Media Centre is also home to EAVA FM, a privately owned organisation which is the first multi-lingual community radio station in the UK.

Kishor Tailor, Chief Executive of Leicester Shire Economic Partnership said: ‘The Media Centre of Excellence in Television and Film was funded to give local people the opportunity to gain practical hands-on experience in the film and television industry, whilst taking advantage of the emerging growth of ‘Bollywood’ culture here in Leicester. This highly innovative centre will be key to the development of the creative industries cluster here in the East Midlands.’

Christine Bullock, Principal of South Leicestershire College said: ‘The hard work at the Media Centre is now really starting to pay off, with South Leicestershire College and Ice Media being short-listed as finalists in the East Midlands International Business Awards recently. This was for the innovative ‘Jewels of Bollywood’ project we ran, where students travelled to India to learn first hand about the Bollywood film industry. This course was so successful that it will be running again in February 2009.’

The East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA) are continuing to offer capital investment funding through the GBI scheme across the whole region, with £8 million of funding available to support businesses in the East Midlands over the next four years.

The GBI scheme, formally known as Selective Finance for Investment in England (SFIE), makes discretionary grants available from the Government to support businesses with investments projects. EMDA are particularly looking for applications that demonstrate how businesses will improve their productivity and skills levels; develop new products and processes and maximise potential opportunities in niche, fast growing or export markets.

Businesses of all sizes can apply, however businesses that are not small or medium sized enterprises (SME’s) can only apply if the investment project is located within an Assisted Area, this can be checked by contacting EMDA.

To find out if your businesses is eligible to apply, visit http://www.emda.org.uk/gbi for full details and to download an application form.