Boo! Where’s the sunshine gone? Things may be getting stormy, but when has that stopped any of us from making the best of things? This week, we’ve been focusing on outdoor activities as we have friends coming to visit for the first time since lockdown. There is so much to do here in the Midlands that we’re sure that rain will not stop play! Cadbury World, The Great Central Railway, Sea Life Centre, National Space Centre, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, King Richard III centre, the National Trust’s Stoneywell and Back to Backs are high on our agenda and, of course, there’s nowhere as atmospheric on a rainy day than Calke Abbey!
Should the sun make an appearance, we’re spoilt rotten with green open spaces in the Midlands and of course there’s everyone’s favourite pastime: shopping! Be rude not to have a spot of lunch too, wouldn’t you say?
So, this weekend, please remember to love where you live as, after all, it takes both sunshine and rain to make a rainbow.
Until next week.
Take care,
Jon, Kevin and the #FUFighters
Image: Bradgate Park courtesy of nationalforest.org
OBLIGATORY BAD JOKE
13 WAYS THAT WORKING LIFE MAY NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN
With Uber, Google, Apple and Amazon joining a long list of companies reevaluating their policies on employees working from home what does this really mean for them in the longer term; have we fully explored the impact on working life?
Toni Robinson, MD of human resources specialists, NucleusHR looks at what we can we expect to change as a result of many businesses not having the confines of an office and asks how will working from home on a larger scale than ever before change the world? Read her thoughts here.
BUSINESS SUPPORT IS JUST A FEW CLICKS AWAY
Now more than ever it’s imperative to stay on top of your game as business owners. With an ever-changing environment and information coming at us from every angle it’s easy to get bogged down and lose focus. If you want to stay on the right track remember there’s a free service available right at your finger tips FIND OUT HOW TO ACCESS IT HERE.
MORE VENUES REOPENING IN LEICESTER
With lockdown behind Leicester it’s great to see more venues opening in the city with The Lanes’ Veeno winebar now added to the list. They’ve been working on a new booking app to ease their reopening this Friday and are offering a complimentary welcome back drink to those who download it in Leicester. DOWNLOAD IT HERE
Meanwhile, Leicester’s newest bar and restaurant, Orton’s Brasserie, in the heart of Leicester’s Cultural Quarter is serving their full food menu from now! We nipped down there yesterday and have to say it was truly excellent – review to follow! Can’t wait to try it? BOOK YOUR TABLE HERE
AN INDIAN SUMMER FESTIVAL ONLINE NOW UNTIL 23 AUGUST
The festival celebrating South Asian culture, An Indian Summer, is now open online until the 23rd August offering a huge range of things to do with incredible events and acts including comedian Nish Kumar, basketball star Jamell Anderson, influencer and writer Poorna Bell, BBC Music Introducing artist Amrit Kaur, a brand new track from Bandish Projekt, a digital art exhibition, film series and more.
Visit www.indiansummer.org.uk to get involved!
LOOKING FOR A NEW BUSINESS VENTURE? IT’S NOT JUST PUBS WITH EVERARDS
Did you know that Everards also supports other independent business owners to run their own businesses? Nor us. Run in Everards buildings, most of these are pubs but did you know that they work with other types of businesses, too? If you are looking to start or expand your own business, drink this article up. READ MORE
MAP RELEASED OF POP UP CYCLE ROUTES
A new map has been produced showing Leicester’s pop-up cycle track network in the style of the classic London Underground map. The map uses different coloured routes to set out the main cycle paths connecting key residential and employment areas of the city to the city centre, and contains both new and pop-up cycle tracks. Copies of the new map are available to download, or you can pick one up from the Town Hall Bike Park.
LEICESTER ACCENTS UNPOPULAR WITH ALEXA
If Alexa and Siri’s misunderstandings are leaving you with a right cob on, a new survey says it could be because your Leicester accent is too strong and nothing to do with their lugs! According to new research from Uswitch.com, the comparison and switching service, smart devices struggle to understand over 23% of UK accents with Birmingham being the fourth and Leicester’s being the seventh hardest for smart devices to understand leaving users ready to lamp it one…
ENJOY SUMMER SAFELY AND SHOP LOCAL
BID Leicester is backing the government initiative of asking shoppers to support their local shopkeepers by shopping and sharing their experience online using photos or videos using the hashtag #shoplocal to encourage and reassure those that are yet to venture out of doors that shopping is safe.
GRANTS RELEASED FOR LEICESTER CREATIVE BUSINESSES
The Government has announced a new support package to help creative businesses in Leicester and Leicestershire, administered by the LLEP Business Gateway Growth Hub. Grants would typically be in the range of £1,000 to £3,000 and could be used to address businesses immediate needs in response to the impact of COVID-19 e.g. HR, accountants, legal, financial, Health & Safety, IT/digital or sector specialists.
To help assess demand, the Growth Hub would appreciate your time in completing a short and simple Grant interest questionnaire asap by clicking HERE:
CELEBRATE AFTERNOON TEA WEEK WITH THE PERFECT HOMEMADE SCONE
We all love Afternoon Tea and with many of us working from home, there has never been a better time to pop a treat in to bake in between Zoom meetings! To celebrate Afternoon Tea Week and in anticipation of The Great British Bake Off, which is filming now, here are two recipes for the perfect scones: sweet and savoury for the star baker!
£50 FIX YOUR BIKE SCHEME AT NEW CITY CENTRE CYCLE SHOP
Looking for bikes for sale? Evans Cycles, has opened a new city centre store at the Haymarket Shopping Centre replacing the old branch on Upperton Road. Following the launch of the Fix Your Bike Scheme, the new Leicester store will be taking part in the Government’s Fix Your Bike Scheme with customers able to use their free £50 voucher to get their bicycle repaired and back on the road.
GET PAID TO LAZE AROUND WITH YOUR DOG
Looking for a new job? With the summer holidays in full swing, why not use that time to get paid testing bean bags with your pooch? That’s right, if you love lazing around with your four-legged friend, you could now do it for cash!
CALL FOR LEICESTER LOCKDOWN ARTWORKS
Art inspired during people’s experience of lockdown in Leicester will be taking centre stage in a new exhibition planned for New Walk Museum and Art Gallery.
FIND OUT HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR WORK HERE
ONE MONTH LEFT TO SUBMIT YOUR EVENT FOR LBF2020
The Leicester Business Festival takes place from 2 to 13 November and there’s just one more month to submit your applications before the website portal closes on Friday 4 September. LBF2020 is the go-to event for entrepreneurs, those looking to start a new business, expand their business, business finance and for those looking to sell/exit their business, too.
FIND OUT HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR EVENT HERE
HOW TO KEEP YOUR DOG HEALTHY AND HAPPY IN THE HEAT
As dog owners, we will do whatever we can to ensure our dogs are fit, healthy and safe. However, when the weather changes, there is an extra element owners must consider when looking after their dog’s health, extreme heat. CLICK HERE to read the main things you can do to help your dog regulate their body temperature and keep them cool when temperatures soar.
THIS WEEK’S ULTRA MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE…
The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.
– Dolly Parton
