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.

The LSEP is pleased to announce that the businesses in Hinckley town centre have voted overwhelmingly in favour of creating a Business Improvement District (BID). The LSEP has provided £47,994 towards the BID process.

Two out of three businesses that voted in the ballot backed the proposal and will now take real control over their trading environment. The BID will be run by the businesses, for the businesses, concentrating on the issues that are important to them. These priorities cover three key areas - marketing and promotion, event and visitor services and business development. They are designed to encourage great numbers of visitors to the area, promote the businesses and encourage investment as well as provide local business support.

Over 85 per cent of businesses will be asked to pay as little as a £1 a day or less, the price of a cup of coffee.

Rick Moore, Chair of the LSEP, said “The LSEP is delighted that Hinckley is the first BID to achieve a successful YES vote in Leicestershire. It is critical the private sector is involved in shaping and improving the fabric of our economic centres if we are to remain competitive on a local, regional and national level, particularly given the current economic climate”

For more information contact Jonathan White, Business Development Manager, at jonathanwhite@hinckleytcp.co.uk

Enterprise Week takes place from 17-23 November 2008 and is a national celebration of enterprise where thousands of activities are run by organisations across the UK to encourage people to unlock their enterprising talent.
Leicester Shire Economic Partnership (LSEP), in conjunction with Business Link, and Skills for Enterprise will be funding a series of competitive events being launched throughout Enterprise Week. Local community groups and organisations have been selected to run a number of events across the City and County seeking to stimulate debate and celebrate enterprise amongst a number of groups.
Each participant will have the opportunity to “pitch their idea” to a Dragons Den style panel of judges and win £100 to help get their business up and running. The winner from each event will then be entered into a grand finale in March 2009 with the chance to win a grand prize! The campaign aims to promote entrepreneurship and actively engage with young people and any other would be entrepreneurs in Leicestershire.
Kishor Tailor, Chief Executive, LSEP said, “Make Your Mark” is the national campaign to unlock the UK’s enterprise potential. It aims to inspire people who have ideas and make them happen. It will create a culture that supports enterprising people and recognises that making money and having a positive social impact can go hand in hand. Young people can use their enterprise skills in many areas of their life: at work, at home, or in education. All these vital skills will help people to make their mark.”
To find out more about getting involved, please contact Heena Kotecha at Skills for Enterprise (0116 275 5535)

One of the most exciting cultural projects in the region, has opened its doors to residents and visitors in Leicester for the first time, with a spectacular array of acrobatics and performances.
The series of events named ‘Lift Off’ began on Tuesday 11th November to reveal the exciting and unique design of Leicester’s new theatre with performers moving around the building and interacting with the audience.
As a £62 million flagship project, Curve not only represents the latest stage in the work to turn the St George’s area into a cultural hub, but it also marks the most important arts and cultural development in Leicester for decades.
Curve is the second of the three capital projects to be completed in the cultural quarter. It was commissioned and developed by Leicester City Council. The project is a partnership between the City Council, East Midlands Development Agency, Arts Council England, Leicester Shire Economic Partnership, the European Regional Development Fund, Leicester Theatre Trust and Leicester Arts Centre Trust.
Kishor Tailor, Chief Executive of LSEP said: “Curve is a flagship facility for the sub-region and a facility which is not only attracting investment into the city, but is also helping to bring in visitors to the area, creating new jobs and raising the profile of the arts. Curve will become a landmark, symbolising the city’s renaissance and reflecting its position as a centre for the cultural industries in the sub-region.

A Strategy to help the City of Leicester and County of Leicestershire benefit from the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 is to be launched on Wednesday 24 September alongside the 3rd Annual PE and School Sport Conference at Loughborough University. The Strategy aims to create a lasting legacy for the whole of Leicestershire arising from London’s success in being chosen to host the 2012 Games. It sets out the co-ordinated action needed across the City and County to help businesses win contracts and sub-contracts associated with the 2012 Games, attract visitors to the area, inspire people to lead more healthy and active lifestyles and help develop local sporting talent.

To view the strategy document please click below.

A textile delegation of 14 businesses from the city of Surat in South Gujarat India visited Leicester between 22nd September and 26th September 2008, led by the President of the South Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Chetan Shah. The visit is reciprocal to the Lord Mayor of Leicester’s visit to Surat in April 2008.

Please click on the link below for further information on the Surat Delegation

The Leicester Shire Economic Partnership (LSEP) has reported another successful year in the Company’s Annual Report and Accounts ‘08. The report was launched at the LSEP Annual General Meeting held last Thursday (28th August 2008).

During the financial year 2007/08, the company invested £10 million into the sub-region and supported an extensive programme.

LSEP key output achievements included: Creation of over 1,900 jobs, assisted over 2,300 people into employment, creation of 80 new businesses, assisted 2,100 businesses to improve their competitive performance, supported over 2,000 people into vocational training and levered in over £10m of investment from the public and private sectors.

Rick Moore Chairman of Leicester Shire Economic Partnership, said, “this year the LSEP continued to make a series of key strategic interventions in the local economy to help stimulate economic growth and to improve the overall environment for businesses to operate. In making these interventions we have funded over £10 million worth of projects which has also helped to unlock both public and private sector investment in Leicester and Leicestershire.”

Leicestershire 2020 vision: Leicestershire will have a prosperous enterprising and dynamic economy, characterised by innovative businesses and creative people, developing attractive and sustainable communities.

To view LSEP’s 2008 Annual Report, please click below.