The fifth annual Leicester Business Festival is underway, promoting the best the region鈥檚 business community has to offer.
A launch event took place yesterday morning, giving attendees a sneak peak inside 1 Great Central Square, Leicester鈥檚 newest grade A office complex.
The breakfast event, which attracted around 100 business and public sector leaders, was followed by a De Montfort University event called聽 鈥淢ake Diversity Your Business鈥 at Leicester Castle Business School, featuring ex-Blue Peter presenter Diane Louise Jordan.
Later in the afternoon, Purple Star Design packed out Curve Theatre with its event, 鈥淲ell Designed Social Media Works鈥.
It covered the basics of using social media channels and free online apps to help with marketing strategies.
This year鈥檚 two-week festival will include 115 events across the city and county, varying in subject and size from small workshops and seminars to expos and conferences.
Tickets to pretty much all the events are free.
Scott Charlish is head of East Midlands financial planning at wealth management firm Brewin Dolphin and chairman of the festival steering group.
Speaking at the launch event he said: 鈥淭here鈥檚 an absolutely outstanding array of events in this year鈥檚 festival.
鈥淭hese include presentations which look at futuristic transport themes such as flying taxis and also events which look into opportunities to become part of the NHS clinical data supply chain.
鈥淒iversity in the workplace is also investigated via a De Montfort University programme and there are workshops teaching social media engagement tactics.
鈥淭here really is something for everyone.
鈥淚t鈥檚 also very fitting that the business festival should launch in Great Central Square, Leicester鈥檚 newest office developments, representing the continued growth of the regional economy.鈥
Joseph Murphy is director at Leicestershire-based Charles Street Buildings, which is building the new office block off Vaughan Way in the city centre.
He said: 鈥淕reat Central Square is Leicester鈥檚 newest prime grade A office accommodation and is now ready for occupation.
鈥淲e, as the developer, are delighted to be able to showcase the building by hosting the launch of the 2019 Leicester Business Festival kicking off the fortnight of events.鈥
De Montfort University鈥檚 Leicester Castle Business School has been headline partner for three years and recently announced it will be continuing its partnership for another three years, along with the East Midlands Chamber and the LLEP Business Gateway.
Helen Donnellan, director of business engagement at the university, said: 鈥淚t has been so exciting to see how the Leicester Business Festival has grown and flourished over the past five years.
鈥淚t has created a real sense of shared purpose in the business community to promote the city and county, helped us share our success and raise the profile of Leicestershire as a great place to do business.
What's new
鈥淎t De Montfort University, we have seen first-hand how it has led to collaborations and new projects and partnerships for our academics and entrepreneurial students.
鈥淭he support received by Leicester Castle Business School from businesses in the festival enabled us to provide incredible opportunities for our students and get to know what issues local companies were facing.
鈥淒e Montfort University is committed to being a part of the business community and that鈥檚 why we are proud to be a sponsor for the next three years.鈥
Remaining tickets to business festival events are .
