Leicester Business Festival is the first two-week business festival ever to be run in the UK and in its ninth year it is the largest of its kind in the UK.
Organisers are aware many businesses leave it until late in the summer to apply but this year slots have been reserved earlier than ever, with more than 50% event slots having been applied for.
Leicester Business Festival takes place from 6-17 November 2023 and is a fundamental date in the business calendar. With up to 80 events set to fill the festival fortnight which will support and enhance business opportunities locally and shine the spotlight on the area as a place to invest nationally.
Ultimately, Leicester Business Festival is run by and supported by businesses for businesses, with the hope of strengthening the local economy and generating inward investment. The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity (STWLC) is one of the organisations supporting this year.
The charity is based at Friar’s Mill in the heart of Leicester city centre and provides interest-free loans to the value of £20,000 to new and existing businesses in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to aid start-up or development.
After a successful pilot in 2021, last year STWLC received 234 applications totalling over £1 million in grant requests. They are currently welcoming applications for grants of up to £5,000 from businesses within the county.
To be eligible for the business grant, available up to £5,000, applicants must be over 18 and under 45 years of age, a resident in Leicestershire or Rutland and operating their business from within this area.
Events can take any shape from a small workshop or seminar to a tradeshow or conference. Hosting an event enables businesses to reach people who they may well have not considered or had the chance to meet.
Events can happen in business locations or at a pre-arranged venue. At previous festivals there’s been an impressive range of venues, from Winstanley House and MIRA Technology Park, to Twycross Zoo and Bosworth Hall Hotel, with countless events taking place across Leicester city centre, and the surrounding districts.
There are still also opportunities to partner with the festival; more information is available on the website. So far, the festival is being supported by De Montfort University (partner), Pattersons Commercial Law (partner), University of Leicester, Everards of Leicestershire, The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity, Leicester Hospitals Charity and TheMusicLicence, by PPL PRS Ltd (music partner).
Applications must be submitted via the website www.leicesterbusinessfestival.com. For more information contact [email protected] or 0116 464 5995.
