INFORMATION


New directory for business support


The Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) Business Gateway Growth Hub is to offer a new business support directory service on its website, www.llepbizgateway.co.uk The new directory is a simple


search facility that makes it easier for companies in Leicester and Leicestershire to get answers regarding available business support. Whether seeking help with


finance, legal, employment, training, property, strategy and planning, or sales and marketing, the directory lists local companies that can offer those services as well as public sector-funded support. Businesses will be able to make


direct contact with the service that interests them. George Gillespie, Chair of the


LLEP Business Board, said: “The Business Gateway is there to bring all forms of business support services together in one place. This simple, three-step search facility is a new part of the overall support package that will make it even easier for businesses to find what they are looking for.”


Local organisations providing a business support service can register to be included in the directory. Email bizgateway @llep.org.uk for information.


Firms still feeling the pressures of inflation


The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has published its Quarterly Economic Survey – the UK’s largest and most authoritative private sector business survey. The survey shows the


manufacturing sector performing strongly in the first quarter of the year, particularly in the exports market, with the number of firms reporting improved sales and orders higher than in previous quarters. However, the rising cost of overheads and raw materials is presenting as risk to growth in the medium term. Although the performance of


the services sector has not returned to historic trend levels, it is improving from its decline in the two quarters immediately following the EU referendum. The results of the survey found that businesses are continuing to


profitability is improving, investment intentions remain low. More businesses have increased their employment expectations, although both sectors are being hampered by recruitment difficulties. Dr Adam Marshall (pictured),


feel inflationary pressures. The percentage of manufacturers reporting raw materials as the key driver of increased prices is at its highest since Q4 2011, and in both sectors a significant proportion of firms anticipate having to raise their own prices over the next three months. The findings indicate that while confidence in turnover and


Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “In the here and now, many businesses are resilient and experiencing solid growth. Many firms tell us their short-term expectations are strong, but that the medium-term picture is far from clear. "Our survey, with deep


participation all across the UK, demonstrates the fact that there are long-standing structural issues here at home that we need to tackle to sustain success in the future. The competitiveness of firms depends on a bold domestic economic policy."


Ambitious plan to regenerate Derby


A £1.9m project to reinvigorate Derby city centre’s main streets and its economy will be funded by Derby City Council and the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership. The City Council’s 15-year city centre plan has identified factors limiting


Business leaders from across the UK at the start of their tour of Nottingham’s Corporate Games venues


Corporate Games come to Nottingham


Business leaders from across the UK spent an afternoon in Nottingham recently as part of the countdown to Europe’s largest multi-sport festival for businesses, the UK Corporate Games, which comes to the city in July. The team leader orientation day


gave representatives from national firms as well as local businesses the opportunity to view the venues that will be hosting the Games. The Games, which take place in


Nottingham between 6-9 July, will see thousands of competitors from


50 business network May 2017


hundreds of employers across the UK take part in a range of sports. They aim to promote corporate


and individual wellbeing through sport, competition, fun and fitness. Ben Sedgemore, UK Corporate


Games Director, said: “We all had a fabulous day and I know we have surprised a lot of people with the quality of what is available in this region. The facilities are superb and the David Ross Sports Village has blown people away.” Companies can register at www.corporate-games.com


the centre’s economic growth – such as declining shopper footfall and fragmented public spaces restricting pedestrian and cyclist movement – and has come up with solutions to address these. Improvements will be made to the environment in and around city centre


main streets and public spaces. The improvements are to be delivered in six phases between 2017 and the end of 2019. The £1.9m costs of the works will be met by


£1.65m from the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership – from its Local Growth Fund allocation, which is used to co-fund infrastructure projects which will directly aid economic and jobs growth in its area – and £250,000 from Derby City Council. It is estimated the project will create more


than 1,000 metres of new and improved cycle routes, improve 3,000sq m of the city centre’s public realm and support 35 new jobs. Peter Richardson, Chair of the


D2N2 LEP, said: “A strong and vibrant city centre is vital to an area’s economy. “That is why we have worked


closely with Derby City Council on this ‘Placemaking’ project and are investing significantly in it.”


Peter Richardson


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