In conjunction with Leicester Shire Promotions
Leicester
Regenera(on
How significant investment in a unique regeneraon programme is transforming
Leicester and Leicestershire for businesses, investors, visitors, residents and employees
Inspiration, creative advice
and support for entrepreneurs.
Tenon are one of the fastest
growing firms of accountants
and business advisers in Leicester.
> Accounts
> Specialist tax planning
> Personal tax
> Corporate tax
> Audit
> Corporate finance
> Corporate recovery
> Financial services
> Outsourcing
For help developing your business, talk to Tenon.
Chris Darlington, Managing Director
Tel: 0116 249 5129 or e mail: chris.darlington@tenongroup.com
Advisers to entrepreneurs
1 Bede Island Road, Bede Island Business Park, Leicester LE2 7EA
Tel: 0116 222 1101 Fax: 0116 222 1102 E-mail: leicester@tenongroup.com
www.tenongroup.com
Leicester Regenera(on
Contents
Leicester is set to be transformed
Page 4
Improving the city’s public realm
Page 5
Building the future through people William Davis Ltd
Page 7
De Mon-ort University’s research and innova.on supports the region’s economy
Page 10
Strengthening the city’s economy through targeted redevelopment
Significant developments across Leicestershire’s three universi.es
Leicester Conferences wins pres.gious award
Loughborough University
Innova.on in SMEs
‘How working with Regenera.on paid off for my business’
Loughborough University MBA
Investment opportuni.es mean Leicestershire is booming
Page 6
Pages 8-9
Page 11
Pages 12-13
Pages 14-15
Page 16
Page 17
Pages 18-29
Leicestershire tourism industry con.nues to drive area’s prosperity
Page 20
Unrivalled accessibility and connec.vity
Page 22
Chantry Vellacot
Exploi.ng the opportunity to transform the image of the des.na.on
Page 21
Page 23
Country-wide investment in infrastructure, economy and environment
Pages 24-25
Performing Arts Centre leads cultural renaissance
Page 27
Changing the Leicester way of life
Tenon – Understanding the needs of business
Cooper Parry in Leicester
Stapleford Park
Belmont House
Page 26
Pages 28-29
Page 30
Page 31
Page 32
Designed and published by 550 Contract Publishing Limited
Tel: 08450 600 550 Email: publisher@business550.com Web: www.business550.com
3
4
Leicester Regenera(on
Leicester is set to be
transformed
Leicester and Leicestershire’s
central location, highly skilled
workforce and competitive
commercial property costs have
helped the destination to become
one of the strongest locations for
business in the UK.
Recently voted one of the best
places in Britain to bring up a family
by a Readers Digest poll, many
major organisations have invested
in and/or relocated to the county,
including Alliance & Leicester,
Caterpillar, AstraZeneca, Walkers,
3M, HSBC, Triumph, Asda/Walmart
and Next.
However, the diverse economy of
Leicester is set to be transformed
further still by a massive £3 billion
investment programme, one of the
most comprehensive and ambitious
programmes currently taking place
in any UK city, and one that is
attracting both national and
international attention.
Major projects set to transform
Leicester include the exciting new
Performing Arts Centre in the city’s
emerging Cultural Quarter, a £350
million investment to extend
“One of the most comprehensive and ambi.ous
programmes currently taking place in any UK
city, and one that is a/rac.ng both na.onal and
interna.onal a/en.on.”
Leicester’s retail offering - set to
propel the city into the UK’s top ten
shopping destinations, and a major
New Business Quarter where phase
one is already underway, creating
100,000 square feet of prime office
space.
Elsewhere in the county, there is
also the £13 million regeneration of
Loughborough Canal Basin,
combining expanded water space
with a reshaped canal basin to
enable better boat access, a public
plaza, student accommodation,
improved facilities, bar and
restaurant units, and space for the
future development of 35 residential
apartments.
The regeneration of the city and
county will create a destination of
which all existing businesses can be
proud, and one in which new
companies and investors will
undoubtedly flourish.
Leicester Regenera(on
Market Approach
Improving the city’s public realm
The city of Leicester is changing. The physical fabric of the city is
evolving as new developments and ini.a.ves are realised.
To support this huge investment in
regeneration and construction, and in
conjunction with the development of
Highcross Leicester, (see page 26)
Leicester City Council has embarked
upon a three-year public realm
improvement programme, which,
combined with major retail and
commercial investment, is transforming
the appearance of the city centre.
WHAT WILL THE PUBLIC REALM
IMPROVEMENT DO?
The aim of the public realm improvement
is to create a framework that enables the
city centre to be appreciated as a totality,
whilst still maintaining areas of
individuality. The public realm explores
and expresses the complexity of
Leicester’s city centre by addressing the
following:
Improving the city’s image by creating
an attractive public realm that encourages
greater use, sustains and enhances
economic development
Defining and reiterating the natural
urban qualities and character of the city
centre through a consistent design
approach
Creating an accessible city centre by
improving connectivity and visual order,
complementing its surroundings
Establishing a timeless palette of
materials and street furniture that is
robust, with low maintenance, easily
repaired/replaced, vandal resistant and
affordable
Creating a memorable city centre with
high levels of legibility underpinning the
city’s existing urban complexity
Creating a vibrant and dynamic
public realm that can be enjoyed by
residents and visitors alike, that is
celebratory of Leicester’s diversity,
success and future
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
Work started on the public realm
improvements during early 2006. The work
includes the creation of a new bus corridor
to the north of the city centre and
pedestrianising High Street, Clock Tower,
the Lanes area and Market Street. Many
streets will be built to a new high quality
standard, using granite paving, new street
furniture and designs which create clean,
uncluttered streets and spaces.
Gallowtree Gate was the first scheme to
be completed in November 2006, Market
Street was completed at the end of June
2007, whilst work to transform the
pedestrianised section of Hotel Street with
a pink granite surface is now gathering
pace. The Hotel Street scheme is due for
completion in the autumn. Work recently
started around the Clock Tower and High
Street. Work and also around the
Gallowtree Gate, Horsefair Street, Market
Place Approach junction and will extend
into Granby Street next year.
5
6
Leicester Regenera(on
Strengthening the city’s economy
through targeted redevelopment
Leicester’s regenera.on approach is ‘joined up’ development that will broaden the
city’s economy, grow new kinds of employment and improve the quality of life.
City leaders working with local, regional
and national Government, formed
Leicester Regeneration Company (LRC).
The organisation brings together public
and private sector partners with the
property industry in a coordinated
programme to transform five key areas of
central Leicester. Together, this powerful
partnership is bringing about change that
makes a difference in the shape of new
work places, shops, leisure and homes.
LRC’s Masterplan was launched in
2002, and is a vision for change in central
Leicester. It is regeneration with a
purpose – it examines the long-term
needs of Leicester – its economy, jobs
structure, housing supply, shopping and
general image, and sets out how physical
change in central Leicester can contribute
to all of these.
The Masterplan is driven by the need to
diversify the Leicester economy and to
grow the service sector, particularly
offices. Leicester has many out-dated
office blocks which will not attract new
businesses but which keep rents too low
to attract new office developments. The
New Business Quarter aims to overcome
this problem by creating a high-quality,
concentrated area of office-led mixed
uses, providing 500,000 square feet of
new floor space, capable of
accommodating 4,000 new jobs.
The first development in the New
Business Quarter is Colton Square, a
development by Goodman, which will
bring 100,000 sq. ft.of office space. City
and Thames are also constructing 40
apartments at the Colton Square site. The
first stage is now complete, and the first
tenants have moved in. Work on the
remaining 50,000 sq. ft. is now well
underway.
Meanwhile, developer Cathco has been
granted planning permission for 89,000
sq. ft.of offices, plus retail and leisure at
International House, on Granby Street.
Leicester is home to two universities
carrying out world class research –
University of Leicester and De Montfort
University - and a new science park will
create a home, both for new businesses
spun out of university research and also
for established technology companies.
Both universities, emda, Leicester City
Council and private developers are
involved in creating two Science Parks at
Abbey Meadows next to the National
Space Centre.
The first developments are nearing
completion at Wolsey Island, which has
the capacity for 2,000 new homes.
A new urban village is planned in the
Lee Circle area, with 1,700 new homes
being built at St George’s North next to
the city’s new Cultural Quarter.
Leicester’s underused waterside is
beginning to be opened up with plans for
3,000 new homes, with many already built
and already occupied.
The retail offering in the city is set to be
improved with a £19 million investment by
Leicester City Council to improve the city’s
streets and spaces, and a £350 million
venture by Hammerson to double the size
of The Shires shopping centre providing
600,000 sq.ft.of new shops and leisure
facilities, including restaurants, open
squares and a cinema, and will reopen in
2008 as Highcross Leicester. It will create
2,500 new jobs in the service sector.
Dav (Bus550Adv) fp adv 10_07
25/10/07
16:14
Page 1
William Davis Ltd -
building the future
through people
William Davis has been
working throughout the
Midlands for over 70 years,
with a reputation that is hard
earned and zealously protected.
The company has three divisions, each at the
forefront of its core business sectors:
Partnerships – building contract housing
for a range of RSL’s and private clients;
Commercial – providing design and build
projects principally in the office and industrial
sectors, and Homes - offering quality
housing for sale. Currently William Davis has
in the region of 30 sites throughout the East
and West Midlands, employing over 600
people, (of whom 500 are directly employed
tradespeople) and has a turnover in excess of
£120 million.
Grange Park, Loughborough.
What helps make the company different is its
approach to some of the unseen elements
which contribute towards achieving the
finished product. The company’s Training and
Apprenticeship schemes, Health and Safety
record and Partnering practices are all key
areas which have been acknowledged in
their respective award winning arenas.
William Davis has been running its in-house
apprentice scheme since 1971. The company
takes on approximately 12 youngsters each
year with 50 apprentices currently on the
books, training as plumbers, electricians,
carpenters & joiners, quantity surveyors and
bricklayers. Last year the company won
Employer of the Year at the first ever Real
Success Apprenticeship Awards, hosted by
the Learning and Skills Council.
Apprentice Ian Cox observes Alex Bowler at work in the
Davis plant department.
Nic Jepson, Group Business Development
Manager, says; “Training youngsters in
traditional apprenticeships helps the company
ensure quality at every level. Many of our
apprentices gain their qualifications and then
go on to further education in building
management. We currently have nine former
Davis apprentices as part of the site
management team or involved in senior
trades positions.”
This year alone the company’s accolades
include International Safety, Pride in the Job,
Green Apple (for environmental excellence)
and various landscape projects. These
awards help to ensure that the company’s
reputation for forming lasting and successful
partnerships and providing a quality product
still prevails.
An enviable
reputation
for quality in
construction
Westminster Road, Birmingham.
Hamilton Office Park, Leicester.
The Wharf,
Loughborough.
William Davis Limited, Forest Field, Forest Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3NS.
t: 01509 231181 f: 01509 268763. e: post@williamdavis.co.uk w: www.williamdavis.co.uk
8
Leicester Regenera(on
Significant developments across
Leicestershire’s three universities
Leicestershire boasts three of the top
universities in the country in the University
of Leicester, Loughborough University and
De Montfort University. To improve the
academic offer for students and staff, and
to encourage greater interaction with
businesses, residents, partners and
stakeholders, all of the universities are
making a significant investment in their
own facilities and in the surrounding
environments.
De Mon'ort University
www.dmu.ac.uk
in the immediate vicinity of the City
Campus.
Further projects are planned that will
ensure the University’s excellent facilities
are modern, vibrant, creative and
innovative.
Future planned projects
Learning Zone Phase 2 - located on the
ground floor of the Eric Wood building in
areas vacated by support departments.
This will provide additional academic
space in the form of the latest student
access/study/work areas. The next step on
autumn 2009
The Ring Road Realignment. This will
result in all traffic being to the east of the
Magazine which will be returned to its
original use as a ‘Gateway’ to both the
University and the city
The new Health Centre on Grasmere
Street. This project, part of the
Government’s LIFT (Local Improvement
Finance Trust) initiative will provide a
modern health centre facility for students
and the local community
The Duns Lane Sports Centre
development. This will provide city centre
sports facilities to the local workforce and
community as well as to DMU students
and staff
The new Faculty of Art & Design. The
development of the Waterside site with a
new state-of-the-art building for the
Faculty of Art and Design. Due for
completion 2011/12
Planned Public Realm Works. A
planned upgrading of the street scape to
provide pleasant squares and through
routes. Providing landscaped public areas
On completion, total investment in the
University Quarter will be well on the way
to a third of a billion pounds.
Loughborough University
www.lboro.ac.uk
Over the past seven years, De Montfort
University (DMU) has made a
considerable investment in its Leicester
City Campus. It has refurbished existing
buildings, constructed new buildings and
drawn in private investment for the
construction of new en-suite self-catered
student accommodation. Total investment
is in excess of £140 million to date, on and
from the learning zone in Kimberlin
Library. Due for completion autumn 2008
The new Faculty of Business and Law.
This will enable the Faculty to relocate into
one purpose-built building. Providing
excellent academic, social and break out
spaces that are large, open, light and
inviting. £35 million. Due for completion
Science and Enterprise Park plans
progress
Plans to create a Science and Enterprise
Park at Loughborough University have
moved a step closer. The University has
started the process to develop a 23-acre
plot of land purchased in partnership with
East Midlands Development Agency
(emda) in April 2006.
The land, which is adjacent to the
University, lies between New Ashby Road
and the Holywell Park area of campus. It
was acquired from 3M Health Care
Leicester Regenera(on
Limited in order to foster the University’s
research and business agenda.
The University has started to prepare
proposals to submit an outline planning
application for a Science and Enterprise
Park later this year. Part of the land has
always been earmarked for science park
use in the Local Plan.
Loughborough University is keen to
develop its science and enterprise links
with industry, both by attracting research
and development activities from industry
which require access to university
expertise, and providing facilities for its
own researchers to develop their ideas.
This will attract high quality employment to
the town and encourage graduates to
remain in the area.
The proposals provide for approximately
43,000 square metres of development,
with buildings of 2-3 stories standing in
extensive landscaped grounds. Part of the
land will be developed to accommodate
the national offices of various UK sporting
organisations. A design competition has
been held to select a designer for the
building and a full planning application will
be submitted in due course.
Midlands Consortium to host £1 billion
energy institute
Loughborough University is part of the
Midlands Consortium that has been
chosen to host a new £1 billion national
institute to develop cleaner energies. The
Midlands Consortium is comprised of the
universities of Southborough, Birmingham
and Nottingham – three world-class
partners, all with extensive and
complementary energy related research
activities. Financial support has been
provided by both East Midlands
Development Agency (emda) and
Advantage West Midlands.
The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI)
is being established to speed up the
deployment of new low-carbon energy
technologies including the efficient
production and use of energy, in support
of the UK’s energy and climate change
goals. It will also increase funding and
provide a national strategic focus for
research and development in this area
and promote international technology
collaboration.
Jointly funded by Government and
industry, the ETI brings together some of
the world’s biggest companies – BP,
Caterpillar, EDF Energy, E.ON UK, RollsRoyce and Shell. Their funding
contribution, along with that of the
Government, provides the Institute with a
potential budget of more than £600 million
over 10 years. The involvement of other
private companies could boost the cash
pot up to £1 billion.
The hub of the ETI will be based at
Loughborough University, on the Holywell
Park area of the campus at the heart of
the University’s Science and Enterprise
Park, and brings with it up to 50 new jobs
in the region. The ETI is expected to be
fully operational by 2008.
University of Leicester
www.le.ac.uk
The University of Leicester is in the midst
of a £300 million development programme,
amongst the largest of any university in
the UK. This programme has seen new
state-of-the-art buildings being developed
and new facilities for staff and students.
The University’s flagship development –
the David Wilson Library – is due for
completion in 2008 and will be twice the
size of the former library. Phase 1 (the new
build) of the new £32 million library is now
finished and Phase 2 (refurbishment) is in
progress. A 500-seat lecture theatre has
also been created – the largest on the
campus
A Halls of Residence in Oadby have
been replaced in a £23 million rebuild with
581 en-suite bedrooms. The development
has recently been shortlisted in the ‘Large
9
Scheme of the Year’ category in the
ProCon Awards
A new £13 million Central Research
Laboratory is set to start building in early
2008
The University completed its Masterplan in
2002, detailing £300 million of planned
investment over a 30 year period. Over
£120 million has been invested over the
last five years and as a result, the
Masterplan will be redeveloped by
Christmas 2007 to look at new areas
including the north, south and main
campuses, Students Union building, and
Medical Science building.
Three universities focus on businesses
Leicester Shire Promotions is leading on
the development of a major ‘Three
Universities for Business’ initiative. For the
first time, this brings together the three
Leicestershire-based universities for the
benefit of businesses in the city and
county.
If your business is interested in finding out
more about the combined business
offering of the three universities, or is
looking for greater interaction and
engagement with the respective
universities, please contact Robin Pointon
at Leicester Shire Promotions on 0116
225 4035 or email
robin.pointon@l-p-l.com
10
Leicester Regenera(on
De Montfort University’s research and innovation
supports the region’s economy
De Montfort University (DMU) has a strong
reputation for its links with industry and
actively contributes to the regional and
national economy, supporting business,
cultural and community development.
It has attracted millions of pounds of
government funding to lead innovative
business initiatives which aim to transfer
knowledge between academia and
industry.
Through research and development,
consultancy and customised professional
training, DMU responds directly to
business needs.
DMU’s Innovation Centre is home to a
range of start-up businesses and
entrepreneurial projects. It provides
access to academic expertise and directly
supports business in product innovation,
staff development and problem solving.
The University works with hundreds of
businesses to develop products through
design and technological innovation.
It provides consultancy and the latest
facilities to test out new designs from the
point of conception, helping to ensure a
greater number of design ideas become
commercially viable.
Resource efficient design is embedded
into DMU’s product development process
to create cost efficient and
environmentally friendly products.
The New Product Development Centre
aims to help improve the performance of
small and medium sized businesses by
offering free design advice and assistance.
Supported by £500,000 funding from
the Leicester Shire Economic Partnership,
the Centre contains state of the art design
and manufacturing equipment so local
businesses and consultancies can see the
value of new techniques in developing
their products.
Another of the University’s strengths is
working with businesses to create custommade training and development packages,
blending academic rigour with practitionerled expertise.
Bespoke courses are designed for
clients in the private, public and not-forprofit sector, for example the Diploma in
Relationship Management Practice DMU
created in partnership with Alliance and
Leicester Commercial Bank.
A number of degrees have been set up
to respond to specific industry needs,
such as the BSc (Hons) Broadcast
Technology degree developed by DMU in
partnership with the BBC to help reduce
the shortage of broadcast engineers.
Students at DMU are encouraged to
develop their entrepreneurial flair, with
numerous of courses and initiatives on
offer to foster innovation.
The University offers governmentfunded Knowledge Transfer Partnerships,
which see recent graduates pursuing
specific projects for businesses, under
joint academic and business supervision.
The 2006 Graduate Destination Survey
shows that the University’s graduates are
top in the region for starting up businesses
compared to graduates from other East
Midlands universities. DMU is also ahead
of the national average, with 2.93 per cent
of DMU per cent of respondents having
started businesses, compared to an
average of 2.64 per cent nationally.
“Through research and development, consultancy
and customised professional training, DMU
responds directly to business needs”
Leicester Regenera(on
Leicester Conferences wins
prestigious industry award!
L
eicester Conferences (the University
of Leicester’s Conference Services)
were celebrating in style after
winning a coveted award at the MIMA
(Meetings Industry Marketing Awards)
2007 awards ceremony which took place
at the Science Museum in London.
In total, the awards attracted over 150
entries from 90 companies in the UK and
overseas, all competing to win an award in
several highly competitive categories
including Best Brochure, Best Use of
Budget and Best Integrated Marketing
Campaign.
The University won a bronze award in
the ‘Best Use of Budget’ category for their
Academic Venue Show 2007 marketing
campaign strategy and execution. The
other award winners in this category were
World Events (silver winner) and the
University of Nottingham (gold winner).
One of the toughest categories is that of
University of Leicester win a MIMA award – from left to
right – Sarah Fell, Acting Residential Services Manager;
Emma Kettle, Deputy Conference & Hospitality Sales and
Marketing Manager; Tracey Sneath, Conference Sales Coordinator; Clive Williams, Food and Beverage Manager;
Trevor Miller, Conference and Hospitality Sales and
Marketing Manager; Frances Stone, Acting Director, The
Residential and Catering Service.
‘Best Brochure’ in which the University of
Leicester were shortlisted for their new
brochure entry launched earlier in 2007.
The winners in this category were Q
Hotels, Unique Venues of London and
Imago at Loughborough.
Commenting on the award event, Trevor
Miller, Conference and Hospitality Sales
and Marketing Manager said “To be
shortlisted for an award of such prestige is
an incredible achievement in itself,
especially when you are competing
against top global brands such as Hilton,
Marriott and Q Hotels but to receive a
finalist award is absolutely fantastic. The
conference team work very hard all year
round to make the absolute best use of
our budget, and as an academic venue
competing in a highly competitive and
commercial market we continually strive to
raise our profile and awareness for the
benefit of the University. It’s great to see
the University of Leicester being put on
the meetings industry map!”
Mr Trevor Miller, Leicester Conferences,
University of Leicester Conference Office,
Stamford Hall Stoughton Drive South,
Leicester. LE2 2ND
Tel: 0116 271 9933
Fax: 0116 221 2053
Email: conferences@le.ac.uk
www.leicesterconferences.co.uk
Service Central to You
One thing we have at Leicester Conferences is unrivalled
2000 people; host anything from a day meeting to large
experience. During our fifty year history we have become
residential conferences and conventions.
established as one of the largest providers of events facilities
in the East Midlands. From complex event management for
large groups to a small networking meeting, we have the
resources to meet your requirements.
The facilities boast two superb locations at one conveniently
11
The key to our business is flexibility both in terms of our
situation and our services. With a high-level of service
as standard and a great location Leicester Conferences
is central to its customers. Our ongoing commitment to
our customers means they too are central to us.
situated venue. In the centre of the country, easily
Call our conferences team on 0116 271 9933,
accessible by rail, road or air, Leicester Conferences’
visit www.leicesterconferences.co.uk or email us
position brings the country’s various population centres
at conferences@le.ac.uk to discuss what we can
that little bit closer. Choose us for any event from 10 to
do to enhance your event.
Loughborough
Science &
“
the ideal business environment for
progressive knowledge-based companies
Edinburgh
Manchester
M1 Junction 23: 1 mile
Birmingham: 45 minutes
Loughborough
Birmingham
London
Loughborough Train Station: 1 mile
London: 90 minutes
East Midlands Airport: 8 miles
”
Enterprise Park
a prime business location
at the heart of Loughborough University’s
thriving research climate
Situated adjacent to the university campus, Loughborough Science and Enterprise Park
houses many of Loughborough University’s Research Centres of Excellence and
strategic research partners, including BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and Ford.
Next phase developments at this fast-expanding site include:
• A prestigious £1billion national Energy Technologies Institute
• SportPark - a major new development to house the UK’s national governing bodies of sport
• Bespoke buildings suitable for large R&D companies
• A range of multi-occupancy buildings to house small and medium-sized organisations
Loughborough also offers one of the region’s largest and most sought after high-tech business
incubators. Loughborough Innovation Centre is purpose-designed to meet the needs of small
and start-up innovative companies, offering affordable fully-serviced office and laboratory space, and
mentoring.
For first class business facilities with links to a wealth of research expertise at
Loughborough University, contact:
Tim Bacon, Science & Enterprise Park Development Manager
T: 01509 223633 E: t.bacon@lboro.ac.uk
14
Leicester Regenera(on
Innovation in SMEs:
Why are Small Companies
so Good at It?
Leicester Regenera(on
15
We find out why group problem-solving skills are so beneficial
Professor Kevin Daniels, Grahame Boocock, Julie Holland & Jane Glover
S
mall and medium-sized enterprises
(SMEs) are considered to be an
engine for growth in both
developed and developing countries. The
benefits of a vibrant SME sector include
the creation of employment opportunities,
the strengthening of industrial linkages,
the generation of export revenues and,
perhaps crucially, the promotion of
flexibility and innovation. Indeed, the
emergence of innovative firms is
acknowledged to be the cornerstone
of a competitive industrial society.
Innovation in firms of all sizes usually
goes hand in hand with learning. If SMEs
are to compete with their larger
counterparts and thus secure the benefits
described above, it is essential that
smaller enterprises maximise the learning
potential of both individuals and teams. It
is the speedy accumulation of knowledge
that often gives smaller enterprises a
crucial advantage in innovating faster
than their competitors.
It is therefore not surprising that a
Loughborough University team, funded by
the East Midlands Development Agency,
has explored the ways in which learning
and other factors can enhance innovation
in regional SMEs. The researchers
employed innovative research methods,
using personal digital assistants (PDAs)
to capture problemsolving strategies as
they occurred in the workplace. This
approach enabled the team to investigate
the ‘real-time’ factors contributing to
learning and innovation in a sample of
117 workers in 15 SMEs over the course
of five working days.
The team found that higher levels of
learning were present when people talked
to each other to solve work-related
problems, and when they changed work
schedules and methods to allow more
time on problem-solving activities. The
team also found benefits where people
changed work schedules to allow for
space to gather their thoughts and reflect
on problems.
These findings underscore the
importance of supportive climates and
devolved decision-making for innovation
and organisational functioning, but also
emphasise the point that the ability to
take short breaks away from problems is
as important as engaging directly with the
problems themselves. Another important
finding is that the level of job formalisation
should allow clarity of individual and
organisational goals, without prescribing
too heavily how to do a job. This gives
staff the flexibility to grasp opportunities.
After the data collection period, all
participating companies received a full
report detailing areas of strength and
potential areas for improvement. The
majority of firms found these reports very
useful and certainly food for thought.
In follow-up interviews conducted some
months later, the MDs were asked
whether they had subsequently
implemented any changes in job design,
team working or problem-solving. One
firm based in Leicester claimed that the
“whole company has been transformed,
with people working together in teams”;
another in Loughborough had “introduced
more structured meetings to aid
communication processes, and taken
steps to empower staff”.
Across the sample as a whole, the
team found that companies meeting or
exceeding performance targets were
those SMEs where staff engaged more
frequently in problem-solving discussions.
In summary, support from others at
work, and the autonomy to make
decisions about work schedules and work
processes, were critical factors for higher
levels of learning, innovation and
organisational performance. Most people
do not need an invitation to attempt to
solve problems – what they need is the
organisational infrastructure to assist
them in this process.
contact: Professor Kevin Daniels
(01509 222720) or Grahame Boocock
(01509 223117)
16
Leicester Regenera(on
‘How working with Regeneration
paid off for my business’
I
f someone had told me a few years ago,
that an informal meeting over breakfast
would change the shape and value of
my business I would have thought them
crazy. That though is exactly what
happened to me and as a result of my
experiences, I would genuinely
recommend that any business, small or
large, should get behind regeneration
programmes in their area.
There are countless reasons for doing
this, many of which I am sure you can
work out for yourself. Marketing, business
exposure, networking etc. But it is the
unexpected that can really enable you to
reap rewards of financial as well as nonfinancial values. The following article
products that could be sold within a retail
environment and to cut a long story short,
we became a supplier to the shop within
the TIC.
The lines all sold well and repeat
business quickly came our way. New lines
were investigated and sourced on a
regular basis also. At that time, The
Leicester TIC was the only retail customer
of our promotional product business.
As the relationship flourished, we held
seasonal product development meetings
and it was at one of these in January 2006
that we came up with the notion of a range
of “I Love Leicester” merchandise. This
consisted of some T shirts, mugs, pens
and pencils and a stock order was made.
“ It was purely an emo.onal decision to support a long
needed change to an area that I had grown up in and I
was now a business owner in.
explains what happened to me as a result
and to my business.
At a networking breakfast in 2004, I
shared a table with 2 directors from
Leicester Shire Promotions and I decided
to become a supporter of the regeneration
of my home city and county. I did this with
no thought or intention of any business
gain. It was purely an emotional decision
to support a long needed change to an
area that I had grown up in and I was now
a business owner in.
After a few other networking events and
informal meetings, my company was
asked to supply some promotional items
for a regeneration event. This we did and
this, in turn, lead to us attending a meeting
with the then managers of the Tourist
Information Centre in Leicester. As a result
of this meeting, we found that we had
Within a few short weeks, we were all
amazed to find the items selling very
strongly with repeat orders being placed
as well as specific range extensions being
put together. It demonstrated to us all that
people in Leicester do in fact have a great
sense of local pride and that tourist
visitors to Leicester wanted local
souvenirs to take home and to send to
loved ones as gifts.
During the summer of 2006, the
Leicester shop was visited by members of
Marketing Birmingham who saw the range
and immediately thought of how well it
could work for them in Birmingham. We
were asked to attend a meeting, which
resulted in a trial I Love Birmingham range
being produced.
This again was a strong seller and was
repeated very quickly. The depth of the
range was increased for the Christmas of
2006 and all the items sold well.
Realising we had a potential National
brand on our hands we set to discovering
and investigating the I Love symbolism
and how we could market it. After much
consultation, thought and extensive work
by our legal advisors, we established the
brand as an official range of merchandise
and launched it nationwide in February of
this year (2007). We now supply many of
the UK’s top destinations as well as some
independent retailers and the range and
client base is increasing every month. As a
result we have a whole new division of our
business, I Love promoting, as well as a
retail brand that sits alongside our
promotional product business, Love Rugby
Promotional Products.
The I Love Leicester range is still on
sale in the Tourist Information Centre shop
The gifts make excellent business and
staff gifts as well as good value and stylish
personal gifts. After all, do you not love
Leicester?
All of this was not something we would
ever have imagined doing had I not got
involved in the support of the regeneration
programme for Leicester and
Leicestershire. We have gained so much
more than the business increases and
changes with our involvement and
genuinely feel very proud to be a
supporter and Big It Up campaigner for
the city. I would honestly urge any
business owner with a sense of pride for
the City and County to consider being
involved and helping make Leicester and
Leicestershire one of the leading lights in
the UK.
Malcolm Watson is the founder and
partner of Love Rugby Promotional
products as well as I Love Promoting. The
businesses are both based in Lutterworth.
Malcolm can be contacted either by phone
on 01455 550 202 or by e-mail at
mwatson@ilovepromoting.co.uk.
18
Leicester Regenera(on
Investment opportunities mean
Leicestershire is booming
In the heart of the East Midlands,
Leicester and Leicestershire is a dynamic
and forward-looking destination for the
21st century. Its central location,
availability of high quality property, cost
effective and skilled workforce, quality of
life and major regeneration plans make it
an excellent choice for new businesses
looking to relocate in the city and county,
and for existing companies looking to
expand or develop their operations locally.
To help realise Leicester and
Leicestershire’s ambition to significantly
increase inward investment, Invest
Leicestershire – part of Leicester Shire
Promotions and the official inward
investment organisation for Leicester and
Leicestershire – is working with key
partner organisations to create new jobs
and safeguard existing ones.
In its last financial year (year ended 31
March 2007), Invest Leicestershire
created and safeguarded over 1,000 jobs,
amounting to £20 million of economic
benefit to the city and county.
Support from key investment partners
Invest Leicestershire is supported by
Leicester Shire Economic Partnership
(LSEP) and East Midlands Development
Agency.
LSEP is the sub-regional strategic
partnership for Leicester and
Leicestershire, and invests £10 million
annually to regenerate the economy of
Leicester Shire. LSEP has a programme
of around 100 projects each year and one
of its aims is to create new employment
opportunities and safeguard existing jobs.
Kishor Tailor, Chief Executive of Leicester
Shire Economic Partnership, adds: “The
Invest Leicestershire figures demonstrate
that the economy of the sub-region is
getting much stronger and both existing
and new businesses are recognising the
opportunities there are in Leicester Shire.”
International firms direct investment to
Leicestershire
According to figures published recently for
the East Midlands by UK Trade &
Investment (UKTI), 84 inward investment
project successes have been highlighted
which, in total, have led to a record 5,733
new or safeguarded jobs for 2006-07. This
means that that the region has exceeded
its inward investment targets for the third
year running.
For Leicestershire, ten international
successes were secured with support
from East Midlands Development Agency
(emda), which generated a total of 689
new or safeguarded jobs in the county.
These companies work in a range of
sectors including healthcare,
communications and automotive.
Success stories of investment in city
and county
There are many recent examples of
businesses taking the opportunities
available to them by relocating to the
emerging city and county. These include
EndoSoft – an international business
selecting Leicester for its UK office, BrevittRieker – a major relocation to a new build
site in Market Harborough, and Cooper
Parry – a blue chip inward investor leading
the way in the New Business Quarter.
Cooper Parry sees growth potential
of Leicester
Regional adviser to business, Cooper
Parry has opened an office in Leicester's
new business district. The premises at No
1 Colton Square will give the firm an
additional 3,000 square feet of space to fill
and it hopes to grow its team in the city
from 28 to 70.
Cooper Parry partner Kevin Harris says:
“By signing up as first occupant of the
Colton Square development, Cooper Parry
has shown its long-term commitment to
the city and county and we intend to be at
the centre of regeneration and growth for
many years to come.
“Leicester has enormous potential and it
is the job of all of the professionals in the
Leicester professional services sector to
do whatever they can to realise this and to
firmly put Leicester on the map.”
The firm, which is the largest
independent accountancy practice in the
Midlands, already has offices in
Nottingham, Derby and Leicester.
Brevitt-Rieker to open North European
head office in Leicestershire
Brevitt-Rieker, a leading international
footwear distributor, is to open its North
European head office at the new Compass
Point development in Market Harborough,
Leicestershire. The company will relocate
from its existing UK head office in
Northamptonshire, safeguarding 24 jobs
with plans to create up to 80 new jobs over
the next three years.
Invest Leicestershire helped BrevittRieker during its negotiations with
Harborough District Council over planning
permission. Following the move to the new
60,000 square feet facility at Compass
Point in May 2008, Brevitt-Rieker will close
its existing Northamptonshire head office.
Ewen Campbell, Managing Director of
Brevitt-Rieker Limited, says: “We are
delighted that the plans for this move have
proceeded successfully. We are
particularly indebted to the help of Invest
Leicestershire and Harborough District
Council and their commitment to finding a
suitable solution. Compass Point will be an
important move for Brevitt-Rieker and this
prestigious development reflects our own
forward-looking vision.”
A healthy move for EndoSoft
EndoSoft is an international leader in the
development of state-of-the-art clinical,
business software and technical
consulting services for the healthcare
industry. In March 2006, the company
began to search in earnest for a base for
its first UK office.
To help with its search for suitable office
premises in the East Midlands, EndoSoft
contacted East Midlands Development
Agency and Invest Leicestershire. Invest
Leicestershire assisted EndoSoft by
providing information on properties,
Leicester Regenera(on
19
supportive information and site visits
around the city and county.
Bart van der Meer, EndoSoft’s Vice
President Marketing & Sales, Europe,
Africa & Middle East says: “We were
looking for a location that matched the
facility we have in the Netherlands and
with Invest Leicestershire’s help, we found
it at the Innovation Centre at De Montfort
University in Leicester city centre.
“It is a good offering, at a good rate.
Other benefits of the location include easy
access by train, car or as a route in from
East Midlands Airport, strong links with De
Montfort University for student placements
and potentially, with its school of nursing.”
The move created four new jobs for
local staff, with plans for further growth.
Invest Leicestershire also included advice
on relevant contacts for third party support
on employment, law and accounting
processes, all as part of its complimentary
service for businesses relocating to the
city or county.
Quality of life is one of the strongest
in the UK
The new ‘Live Leicestershire’ guide is
focused on the quality of life in
Leicestershire. This unique publication,
produced by Leicester Shire Promotions,
is aimed at showcasing the strengths of
the city and county to help key corporate
businesses recruit best talent and attract
high value inward investment.
Martin Peters, Chief Executive of
Leicester Shire Promotions, says: “A major
part of attracting companies to relocate
here is the quality of life that the city and
county can offer to their staff. There are
always some members of staff who will
relocate with the company to assist its
establishment in a new area. Conversely,
existing businesses are also looking to
attract highly-skilled talent and again,
quality of life is a key influencer in the
decision-making process of people moving
to a new area to work.
“We wanted to produce a guide to
Leicester and Leicestershire that would
highlight the many lifestyle opportunities
available to someone relocating to work
here. We are confident that the guide will
continue to show people why Leicester
and Leicestershire are increasingly seen
as a strong business location,” continues
Martin.
For more on relocating to Leicester or
Leicestershire, to source copies of the
new Live Leicestershire lifestyle guide to
help your business, or for any other inward
investment activity in the city and county,
please visit www.investleicestershire.com,
contact Invest Leicestershire on 0116 225
4071 or email invest@l-p-l.com
20
Leicester Regenera(on
Leicestershire tourism
industry continues to
drive area’s prosperity
T
he past 10 years has seen a
remarkable shift in the landscape
of the Leicestershire economy. The
decline of a once flourishing
manufacturing industry in the area has
been followed by a tremendous growth in
the leisure and tourism sectors – and this
trend looks set to continue once the city’s
much anticipated £3 million regeneration
scheme is completed.
The tourism industry contributes more
than £1 billion per year to the prosperity
of the local economy with in excess of 30
million visits annually, accounting for
about a quarter of all tourism in the East
Midlands.
Martin Peters, Chief Executive of
Leicester Shire Promotions says: “As well
as the regeneration in the city, many
attractions and accommodation providers
are also investing significant sums in new
developments to encourage visitors and
guests to extend their stay in our city and
county.”
£2 million investment for Leicester's
first boutique hotel
The new Hotel Maiyango boasts a
rooftop bar and balcony with views
across the city centre skyline. The hotel
has 14 rooms and is in a former shoe
factory in St Nicholas Place, near the
Highcross Leicester extension to The
Shires shopping centre. The interior
design of the hotel is billed as a
showcase for the talents of Leicester
designers and artists.
Investment is Paramount at
Hinckley Island
Since its purchase by Paramount Group
in January 2005, the Paramount Hinckley
Island has transformed the hotel’s image
and created 120 new jobs.
Paramount is also planning to plough
another £3 million of investment into the
hotel to boost conference space capacity
from 400 to 800 delegates during 2007.
Subject to planning consent, Paramount
Hinckley Island will then rival the NEC’s
Hilton Birmingham Metropole in terms of
delegate capacity, central location and
ease of motorway access from all parts
of the country.
New theatre facility at Kilworth
House Hotel
The Kilworth House Theatre has been built
on a beautiful wooded glade close to the
lake on the grounds of Kilworth House
Hotel in Harborough, Leicestershire. The
theatre’s modern all-weather auditorium
can seat up to 550 and offers superb views
from every seat. A state-of-the-art lighting
and sound system has been installed in
keeping with the owner’s intention to
present professional productions and
entertainment of the highest quality.
For the latest news and developments in
the tourism industry in Leicester and
Leicestershire, please visit
http://tourism.goleicestershire.com. For
more information on the free business
development advice available for tourism
businesses in Leicester and
Leicestershire, email tourism.services@lp-l.com
22
Leicester Regenera(on
Unrivalled accessibility
and connectivity
L
eicestershire’s central UK location,
close proximity to London and
connectivity to the national road,
rail and air communications
networks makes it easily accessible from
all major UK cities and regions.
Not only does this make it a superb
location for business travel, but also
attractive to staff and businesses
relocating from elsewhere in the UK. A
number of new developments including
those for Eurostar and East Midlands
Trains are currently planned to bring the
destination to within even easier reach of
business travellers.
Eurostar brings the continent closer to
Leicester
Eurostar, the high-speed passenger train
operator, is set to boost travel between the
UK regions and France and Belgium when
it launches services from St Pancras
International in November 2007 - providing
faster, more convenient journeys to the
continent.
The UK’s first high-speed rail line, High
Speed 1, will create an attractive
alternative to short-haul flights for millions
more people across Britain. Using highfrequency Midland Mainline services from
Leicester to London, passengers will be
able to connect seamlessly with Eurostar
trains to the continent.
Eurostar’s arrival at St Pancras
International will also bring Leicester
closer to Europe, reducing journey times
and benefiting local tourism, attractions
and businesses. Continental visitors will
have easier access to the city, boosting
links with Strasbourg – Leicester’s twin
town in France.
Richard Brown, Chief Executive of
Eurostar, says: “Our new stations,
combined with High Speed 1, will unlock
the power of Eurostar for people living in
Leicester. Attractive fares, better
East Midlands Airport, the UK’s No. 1 pure cargo airport and UK’s fastest-growing airport
connections with domestic rail services
and faster journey times to Paris and
Brussels will ensure seamless journeys
and provide a genuine and far greener
alternative to short-haul air travel.”
New train company to improve journey
times from London to Leicester
A new train company for the East
Midlands and South Yorkshire will start its
seven-year-and-four-month franchise in
November 2007. East Midlands Trains, run
by Stagecoach Group, has announced
plans for millions of pounds of
improvements to trains and stations.
Highlights of the company’s plans
include millions of pounds of investment in
station and train improvements including
refurbishments, more CCTV cameras,
more car park spaces and improved
journey times.
One of the highlights of the programme
of improvements and investment includes
faster journeys to Leicester (1 hour 07
minutes) from London as part of a new
timetable in December 2008, with potential
for further infrastructure-based
improvements.
There will also be closer partnership
with Network Rail to improve train
performance, and the creation of a new
integrated control centre where colleagues
from each organisation will sit alongside
each other to run the train service.
Taking to the skies to reach Leicester
and Leicestershire
Leicester and Leicestershire are also well
served for business travellers reaching the
destination by air. The county is home to
East Midlands Airport, the UK’s No. 1 pure
cargo airport and UK’s fastest-growing
airport*. Nearby Birmingham International
is the UK’s sixth largest airport and has
the highest proportion of business traffic
second only to London Heathrow.
* Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) statistics ‘Size of UK Airports
2006’, published 15 March 2007. Measured Jan-Dec 2006,
equal with Liverpool John Lennon Airport
Leicester Regenera(on
23
Exploiting the opportunity
to transform the image
of the destination
A
s the image and identity of a
destination becomes of paramount
importance in attracting investment
and visitors, Leicester Shire Promotions is
working with a growing number of local
industry partners to drive the image of
Leicester and Leicestershire forwards.
"For too long, Leicester and
Leicestershire have suffered from a
perceived lack of a strong, consistent
image with which investors, businesses
and visitors can identify and associate.
Although in some people's minds locally,
this remains a major challenge for the
destination, strong feedback from key
external influencers and increasingly
positive coverage in the national press
have proven to us that we're heading in
the right direction.
"There is, however, much work still to be
done. Following the completion of the
massive regeneration programme, we will
bear the fruits of an unparalleled change
in the physical infrastructure of the
destination and we must work collectively
to fully exploit this opportunity to transform
the image of the city and county for good,"
explains Martin Peters, Chief Executive of
Leicester Shire Promotions.
Industry partners and stakeholders
across the destination are working
together to create a single, strategic brand
identity programme that will provide a focal
point for communicating a positive
perception of the city and county as a
place to visit and in which to invest.
Commenting on the importance of a
strong, consistent image for Leicester,
Head of Communications at Leicester City
Council, Mark Bentley, adds: “We’re living
in a highly-competitive world. So, if we are
to achieve a prominent position in the
national and international marketplace, it’s
vital that our presence is felt and noticed.
There’s a huge amount of change
happening across the city – now is the
best time in generations for us to really
show people what we’ve achieved here.”
The success of these strategic
campaigns and marketing activities will be
measured in the coming years when
locally and globally, Leicester and
Leicestershire will be firmly established as
a destination of choice in the minds of key
audiences – investors, visitors, students
and the people and businesses that make
up this vibrant destination.
"Around the world, des.na.ons need to stand out to
a/ract inward investment, tourism and government
assistance in today's highly compe..ve global
environment." Michael Hayman, The Communicaons Group
24
Leicester Regenera(on
County-wide investment
in infrastructure, economy
and environment
Over the next 10 years, Leicestershire will
see significant investment in its
infrastructure, economy and environment.
The county will be an area where the
principles of sustainability are
implemented through new development
and regeneration to provide new jobs,
homes, services, community facilities and
green and environmental infrastructure.
The role of the main towns will be
maintained through appropriate
development and the New Growth Point
Programme will deliver Sustainable Urban
Extensions to Loughborough, Hinckley,
Coalville and areas of Charnwood and
Blaby, adjoining Leicester.
Masterplans have been completed for
the county’s main towns which will
experience a transformation through
significant investment in retail, leisure, and
community facilities. There will also be
development and regeneration activities in
other towns including Ashby and
Lutterworth, and the smaller rural
settlements in Leicestershire.
"Leicestershire is undergoing a unique
transformation. Our goal is to create a
sense of place that offers a high class
quality of life, with excellent employment
prospects, some of the best schools in the
country, and access to services and
housing. We will engage with
communities, the private sector and
partners to deliver viable and cohesive
regeneration programmes to create
sustainable communities and businesses,"
says Councillor David Parsons, Leader of
Leicestershire County Council.
Some of the major developments and
projects taking place across Leicestershire
include:
Hinckley and Bosworth
Atkins Creative Industries Project
A major project set to create a new
Creative Enterprise Centre and a 4,000
square metre facility into which Hinckley
College will relocate. The Creative
Enterprise Centre will be high quality
managed office space to incubate and
grow creative and cultural businesses,
with workspaces, gallery space and
meeting rooms. The College will also
relocate all faculties around the creative
and cultural industries to the new site. The
two-acre site has been purchased, will be
ready for further development by the end
of the financial year, with the aim of having
the facilities open in summer 2010.
Melton Mowbray
Town Centre Masterplan
The Melton Mowbray Town Centre
Masterplan will help to secure the long
term future of Melton Mowbray as a
thriving retail centre. It will support its
complementary functions of commercial
and leisure provision, and the main
tourism function of fine food as the Rural
Capital of Food and Drink.
The Masterplan will develop a clear vision
and aims for the town centre that will lead to:
The improvement and enhancement of
the physical character of the town centre
Investment in the retail/leisure offer
through the identification of development
opportunities
Social and economic benefits through
the creation of an accessible, safe and
attractive environment
Long terms sustainable development
that will result in additional employment
opportunities
Oadby and Wigston
Town Centres are at the centre of
development activity in the Borough of
Oadby and Wigston. Masterplans are
currently being developed for Oadby and
Wigston, and the existing Masterplan for
South Wigston is being reviewed, all of
which could provide extensive investment
opportunities.
In Oadby and Wigston the key aim of
the Masterplans is to highlight options for
enhancing the town centres to ensure they
exceed requirements of the modern
consumer in 2010 and beyond. Major
redevelopment projects that are being
explored include large-scale
pedestrianisation of areas and
development of new areas for retail and
leisure. In addition there will be major
public realm works. Preferred options for
the Masterplans are due to go to public
consultation in November 2007 with a
redevelopment timescale of ten years.
Over in South Wigston the current
Regeneration Masterplan is being
reviewed and re-visioned to drive forward
the next stage of development in this local
centre. Extensive public realm
improvements have already been seen
with the provision of new bus shelters,
new pavements and street furniture.
Furthermore, the Borough Council has
provided resources to create a South
Wigston retail website, to make
consumers aware of the retail offer in the
town. The website is due to be launched
December 2007.
North West Leicestershire
East Midlands Distribution Centre (EMDC)
A 140 acre rail connected national
distribution centre at Castle Donington,
setting a new standard for logistics parks.
EMDC has been carefully masterplanned
to accommodate high bay distribution
buildings that range from 15,000 square
feet to an astonishing 1.1 million square
feet - in a single unit. The 1.1 million
square feet plot has a direct rail
connection for private sidings, allowing
utilisation of conventional wagons, and is
located on the M1/A42(M)/A50.
East Midlands Airport
The UK's largest pure cargo airport with
Leicester Regenera(on
DHL, TNT and UPS having bases there as
well as being a primary hub for Royal Mail.
In and around the airport there are now
around 110 employers covering a range of
different business sectors - regional office
of Pricewaterhouse Coopers to Central
Networks to Thistle Hotels. The airport has
established a Skills Academy for training
purposes and there are approximately
7,000 employees based in and around the
airport.
Coalville Masterplan
In Coalville, a Masterplan has been
undertaken and the District Council has
approved the vision to make Coalville a
contemporary market town and an
exemplar of sustainable development. A
transport assessment to build on the work
of the Masterplan is being undertaken.
Blaby
Grove Park
A first class development site of 42.5
hectares which will ultimately comprise
around 116,000 square metres of prime
office, production and distribution
accommodation in an exceptional location
adjacent to Junction 21 of the M1 and
M69 intersection.
Carlton Park
Just five minutes drive from junction
21/M1 and M69, this purpose built office
park is the prestigious home of the
Alliance and Leicester customer service
centre which houses over 2,000 staff and
combines an outstanding development
location and working environment totalling
4,800 square metres.
Charnwood
Loughborough Eastern Gateway
Encompassing 11 acres of brownfield
land, there has been a desire for many
years to improve this important entrance
to the town from the main railway station.
Following a tendering process, William
Davis has been chosen as the preferred
developer.
25
facilities conducive to growth.
Compass Point Business Park,
Northampton Road, Market Harborough
Work is currently underway on Phase 1 of
this high quality office development where
units range from between 2,735 - 16,570
square feet. The site is located on the
south side of the town on the A508, and
the A14 allows access onto the A1/M11
and M1/M6.
Harborough
Lutterworth Regeneration Project &
Masterplan
Lutterworth Improvement Partnership
(LIP), Lutterworth Town Council,
Harborough District Council and
Leicestershire County Council have
worked jointly to secure external funding
to produce a Vision and Masterplan for the
future regeneration of Lutterworth town
centre. The project will individually and
collectively improve the quality of the town
centre and strengthen the local economy.
Harborough Enterprise Centre (HEC)
The project is a flagship venture for the
Welland SSP, partners and the sub-region.
It is a potential hub for a series of similar
centres and is intended as a catalyst and
focus for wider interventions to support
entrepreneurship, innovation and business
growth within the area. An Enterprise
Centre would provide a range of flexible,
high quality office units/suites in a single
building for rent by local high tech,
innovative businesses that require support
in terms of a working environment and
Explaining how regeneration and the
physical developments taking place will
impact the county, Councillor David
Parsons, Leader of Leicestershire County
Council adds: "Leicestershire is an
excellent destination and strong business
location, with a great deal to offer. It is our
business to ensure that this is recognised.
The regeneration going ahead in the
county and city will enhance the area even
further. Importantly, it will help us
strengthen our image and capitalise on
this renewed energy and drive."
Town Centre Masterplan
The Loughborough Masterplan was
published in August 2007 and its aim is to
provide a clear vision for the social,
economic and environmental development
of Loughborough Town Centre for the next
15 years.
26
Leicester Regenera(on
Changing the Leicester
way of life
Set to open in autumn 2008, Highcross
Leicester will absorb the existing Shires
shopping centre to become a single
vibrant destination of over 100,000 square
metres, incorporating an unrivalled choice
of over 100 aspirational fashion retailers.
Led by a four-storey John Lewis
department store, along with Debenhams
and House of Fraser, Leicester’s new
shopping experience will make it a top 10
UK retail destination.
Hobbs and All Saints are the latest
fashion brands to confirm their presence
at Highcross Leicester in a long list of style
leaders which also includes Zara, Reiss,
Next, H&M, New Look, River Island and
Republic.
However, Highcross Leicester will be
about more than just shopping, with a 12screen 3,000 seat Cinema de Lux and 15
new cafés and restaurants in the ‘Covent
Garden’ style restaurant quarter. With
Carluccio’s, YO! Sushi, Wagamama and
The Handmade Burger Company already
on the menu, eating out or relaxing with a
drink to watch the world go by in the
picturesque setting of two new public
squares will be an experience to
remember.
In addition, Highcross will provide
Leicester’s first true city centre living with
120 stylish one and two bedroom
apartments with views over the city, and
the development’s new public squares and
vibrant restaurant quarter. And the
introduction of a new multi-storey car park
will bring the total Highcross spaces to
3,000, improving access to encourage
people to come and enjoy the new city
centre.
Highcross Leicester will bring about an
exciting new city centre culture that the
East Midlands can embrace and enjoy.
For more information, visit
www.highcrossleicester.com
“ea.ng out or relaxing with a drink to watch the world go by in the picturesque se0ng
of two new public squares will be an experience to remember.”
Leicester Regenera(on
27
Performing Arts Centre leads
cultural renaissance
Leicester’s new Performing Arts Centre is
an exciting symbol of the city’s current
renaissance. The prestigious centre is at
the heart of the regeneration of the St
Georges South area of the city –
designated Leicester’s Cultural Quarter –
and has already led to around £55 million
being invested by the private sector in the
area. The project will create 147 new jobs.
Opening in autumn 2008 and designed
by internationally-renowned architect
Rafael Vinoly, this exceptional new theatre
features two exciting auditoria and stateof-the-art technology. Unique to Britain,
this iconic venue also boasts a large
flexible stage that can be seen from the
street outside. The stunning glass façade
encloses a magnificent foyer with views
onto the café, bars, dressing rooms,
workshop area, offices and across the
stage.
In Leicester, where an unprecedented
programme of regeneration is under way,
the city council is developing an exciting
new Cultural Quarter that’s set to become
one of the city's most significant visitor
destinations.
Work on the Performing Arts Centre has
already had a positive effect on the rest of
the Cultural Quarter. Already there are
new streets, pavements and open spaces,
with further developments planned for a
new digital media centre and a centre for
visual arts. All of this investment will attract
new businesses and visitors not just to the
Cultural Quarter, but to many other parts
of the city.
Councillor Ross Willmott, Leader of
Leicester City Council, said: "Having been
inspired by culture-led regeneration in
other cities, we commissioned a world
class architect to design a world class
performing arts centre for Leicester. This
iconic building will not only be the
centrepiece of the Cultural Quarter, it will
also be something truly unique that will
help the city stand out in the national and
international arena. There’s a huge
amount of change happening across the
city and now is the best time in
generations for us to really show people
what we’ve achieved here.”
The new Performing Arts Centre is
developed by Leicester City Council and
supported by Arts Council England and a
number of other funding agencies.
There are a range of opportunities for
businesses and individuals to engage with
Leicester Theatre Trust and the new
theatre. For more information, please
contact Stella McCabe, Deputy Chief
Executive on 0116 253 0021.
Be one of the first to receive details of the
opening programme by visiting
www.leicestertheatretrust.co.uk
Picture credit: Ian Davis, Leicester City Council
28
Leicester Regenera(on
Understanding the needs
of business
B
usiness is looking increasingly
bright for Leicester, a city which,
for far too long, has lived in the
shadow of some of its rather more
glamorous Midlands neighbours.
Leicester’s renaissance - if we dare call
it that - is most visible thanks to the
£2bn regeneration programme that is
revitalising the city's infrastructure and
services. The Shires shopping centre in
the town centre is in the throes of
doubling in size in the next few years.
Meanwhile, many of the old Victorian
warehouses and mills are being
converted into loft-style apartments and
there are also a number of other newbuild developments under way, both for
residential and business use.
Encouraging levels of indigenous
business growth offer further evidence
that Leicester has come to terms with
the economic knock-backs of
yesteryear.
Against this backdrop, Leicester has
witnessed a sizeable increase in its
professional business services sector.
And we’re not referring here to your bog
standard, traditional number-crunchers.
We’re talking about a new breed of
business services firm that can work
with and support growing businesses,
understanding their often complex
requirements and providing relevant,
innovative solutions to them. Leading
the pack in this area is Tenon, a leading
provider of accounting and business
advice to entrepreneurs, ownermanaged and private businesses. Tenon
has had a presence in Leicester for
eight years now and in that time has
grown its staff numbers in the city from
eight to 54. 2007 was the firm’s best
year yet in Leicester and there is every
sign there will be more to come in 2008.
Chris Darlington is the Managing
Director of the Leicester office of Tenon,
a company which across the UK has
1,700 staff operating through a network
of 40 offices offering local expertise.
Chris suggests that Tenon’s Leicester
office has been able to mirror the growth
of the city in which it resides by
providing modern, proactive and
innovative business services to owner
managers and entrepreneurs. He says:
“As a business, we have traditionally
worked with owner managed
businesses and entrepreneurs who are
looking for more than straight-forward
accounting services. The needs of
Leicester Regenera(on
growing businesses are often complex and
the issues that they encounter along the
way - which may encompass tax,
corporate finance, HR and financial
services to name a few - cannot, we
believe, be looked at in isolation. So often,
what is required is a joined up approach,
an approach that looks at businesses
holistically from a professional services
standpoint and provides an intelligent
solution.”
Chris points to the issue of staff
retention as a case in point and in order to
highlight how Tenon has sought to
understand the day to day issues facing
business owners and provide practical
answers. “I will never get tired of making
the point that people are an organisation’s
most important asset,” he says. “With this
in mind, we often work alongside clients,
looking at issues of staff retention and
ways in which they can incentivise key
management. This might be through
company share incentive schemes or
other long term incentives. For us, this is
about helping clients to attract the best
candidates and may involve our tax team
working in tandem with our HR Services
division.”
As has been alluded to, a key strength
of Tenon is to provide creative solutions to
tax and accounting issues facing owner
managers and entrepreneurs. One area in
which the company is working particularly
closely with many of its clients in the
Midlands right now in the wake of Alistair
Darling’s Pre-Budget report is looking at
how best to deal with the implications of
the significant changes to the rules on
capital gains tax that come in to effect in
April 2008.
In place of the current system which,
due to the availability of business asset
taper relief, allows investors to pay as little
as 10% capital gains tax on profits from
the sale of shares in unlisted trading
companies, or publicly listed trading
29
“I will never get .red of making the point that people
are an organisa.on’s most important asset,”
Chris Darlington, Managing Director of the Leicester office of Tenon
groups they work for, Mr Darling
announced a new flat 18% rate.
Remarkably this new 18% flat rate will
also apply to capital gains that are not
eligible for business asset taper relief such as the profit made on the sale of a
portfolio of quoted shares and also on
second homes!
There will doubtless be winners and
losers from these changes. Somebody
who makes a windfall gain on an
investment portfolio which they have held
for 6 months will see their rate of tax go
down from 40% to 18%. But somebody
who has been building up their family
business ready for a sale will now find
their tax will almost double – from 10% to
18%. The new rules apply for disposals on
or after 6 April 2008 - hence the
importance of businesses that fall into the
ready-to-sell or thinking of selling very
soon category to act quickly. That is the
message of Michael Tuhme, Senior Tax
Manager at the Leicester office of Tenon.
“Anybody who is proposing to sell their
business in the near future would be well
advised to assess their options in advance
of April as there might be scope to
mitigate the tax they will incur before the
new rate comes into effect,” he says.
“Many of our clients have been affected by
the changes to capital gains tax. We would
expect opportunities for clients to
crystallise capital gains tax liabilities
before April whilst still retaining business
ownership to secure the more beneficial
tax rates and we can help entrepreneurs
maximise these opportunities.
Changes are also on the way which will
affect ‘husband and wife’ companies.
Following HMRC's defeat in the Arctic
Systems case, the Government's intention
to bring in new legislation to counter the
effect of ‘income splitting’ has been
confirmed. This particular case involved a
company owned equally by a husband
and wife enabling profits to be distributed
as dividends to both of them despite the
fact that the husband was the main
income earner for the company. The fact
that HMRC lost this case, coupled with the
current rates of income tax on dividends
and rates of national insurance, it follows
that substantial tax savings can be made
by carefully considering the structure of a
company’s share ownership..
The Government has therefore
announced that legislation will be
introduced to potentially remove the tax
advantage from such income splitting
arrangements. Again, using its innovative,
‘outside the box’ approach to addressing
tax issues, Michael Tuhme and his
colleagues are able to help husband and
wife businesses who might be wondering
where they stand under the revised laws.
Summing up, Michael points out the
Tenon team at Leicester is looking forward
to continuing its work with local business,
abiding by its tried and tested approach of
building strong local relationships to
ensure a personal, director-led service. He
says: “Our client relationships tend to be
close and intimate - we really get to grips
with their needs. We like to think they see
us as the first port of call, not just in terms
of business accounting and services but
also personal tax planning and wealth
retention strategies”
See www.tenongroup.com
30
Leicester Regenera(on
Cooper Parry, Leicester
For evidence that prospects look bright for
Leicester in the next few years, one need
only take a look further up the M1 to cities
such as Nottingham and Leeds and,
further north still, Newcastle. In each of
these, a key catalyst for growth was when
professional business services firms
began to make a long term commitment to
the city.
With this in mind, the ambitious plans
that Cooper Parry has for the development
of its Leicester office over the next few
years must surely bode well. Kevin Harris,
Partner at the Leicester Office of the
business, says: “We have 30 people
working here full time and the plan is to
take that up to 80 people over the next few
years.”
Cooper Parry opened its Leicester office
in 2001 and since then has watched with
quiet satisfaction the onward march of the
city. For Kevin Harris, positive leadership
from both the public and private sectors
has been key to the Leicester’s
renaissance. “When we first arrived here
there seemed to be no real strategy for
taking Leicester forward,” he says. “In the
past two to three years we have seen
more leadership from various
organisations and that has led to a blue
print for Leicester. We’ve had the
regeneration company being set up, there
have been the exciting plans for the
business quarter within Leicester and the
general redevelopment of the city and
surrounding areas.”
As a leading light in the region’s
professional services sector, Cooper Parry
was naturally keen to take a lead and,
indeed, was the first professional services
firm to commit to the new business
quarter. Some might say the firm‘s
commitment to Leicester was a risk,
especially following a period when many
professional services firms had left the
city. Kevin and his colleagues, however,
saw Leicester’s potential and were acutely
aware of the positive message their
commitment to Leicester would send out
to others. “My gut feeling was always that
you need to have some people who will
take the plunge when a city is
redeveloping and momentum will build
around that,” says Kevin. “In all of the most
successful cities in the UK there is a very
successful business quarter and Leicester
is now moving in that direction. There is
actually a buzz now around the city centre
because there is so much development
going on and if you drive around the city
centre it is clear this is a city that is earmarked for enormous development. You
have the Shires development which is one
of biggest retail developments in country,
you have the business quarter and the
new theatre. All the pieces of the jigsaw
you need for a successful city are coming
together - and people are starting to
believe.”
Since arriving in Leicester, Cooper
Parry has taken an innovative approach,
deliberately seeking out growing
businesses with challenges as opposed to
simply aiming to win market share. A
different way of thinking coupled with high
level, proactive advice have been the
order of the way.
So what of the future for Leicester?
Cooper Parry certainly sees no reason
why the city’s success story shouldn’t
continue as external images of the
Leicester begin to change. Concludes
Kevin: “If you come out of London and
head north the first major city you come to
is Leicester and with the link to Paris soon
up and running that also bodes well for
Leicester and its international links.
Leicester is in a really good geographic
position and there is a real feeling of
momentum around the place - it is ideally
placed take on other cities.”
Stapleford Park Country
House Hotel & Sporting
Estate is a relaxed 17th Century home
set in 500 acres of parkland. Stapleford
Park offers 55 individually designed
bedrooms, reflecting the style of their own
creators. The 11 elegant meeting and
dining rooms are suited to small, private
meetings, with the Grand Hall and
Orangery ideal for larger gatherings.
Traditional country pursuits include clay pigeon shooting to falconry,
fishing to tennis and horse riding. Our Victorian stable block is home to
a gymnasium and fitness studio with state-of-the art equipment and a
brand new spa with 7 individually designed therapy rooms named after
Crystals or Gem stones.
Dining at Stapleford Park is pure unadulterated indulgence, with a
choice of fine British cuisine with European influences in the main house
or more informal dining in the Pavilion Brasserie. Whether you are
planning a high profile corporate event, prestigious award ceremony,
Stapleford Park is the ultimate retreat to work and play.
- 6 9 4ORE I NFO R4 (TI O 5 P LE(SE CO NT(*T
:[HWSLMVYK 3LPJLZ[LYZOPYL 3, ,- ,UNSHUK
T F E YLZLY]H[PVUZ'Z[HWSLMVYKJV\R ^^^Z[HWSLMVYKWHYRJVT
Leicester is regenerating...
...So is The Belmont House Hotel
Best Western Belmont House Hotel
De Montfort Street, Leicester, Leicestershire LE1 7GR
Tel: (0116) 254 4773 Fax: (0116) 247 0804
Email: info@belmonthotel.co.uk www.belmonthotel.co.uk