Business leaders taking part first virtual Leicester Business Festival say their events have been a success, with the lockdown and continued uncertainty over the economy failing to dampen enthusiasm.
The annual festival is now one week in, featuring workshops, round table discussions and presentations covering everything from apprenticeships to SME advice, support with innovative ideas and buildings for a future Britain.
Following the cancellation of the 2020 MIPIM property and construction showcase in the spring members of the Team Leicester delegation hosted a virtual discussion on why they believe the city is one of the hottest places in Europe to invest.
The city is currently in the middle of a £250 million-plus regeneration of its former industrial Waterside area. The huge swathe of brownfield land already has new hotels, leisure complexes, offices, student flats and housing, with work now starting on 300 more homes and 60,000 sq ft of Grade A office space.
The first stage of Space Park Leicester is also nearing completion – a £100 million research and business facility being built in the shadow of the National Space Centre.
Leicester Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby, who joined the panel discussion, said: “Not so many years ago I used to say that Leicester and Leicestershire had a collective inferiority complex.
“We couldn’t actually believe that there was anything very good about it but, my goodness, haven’t we got over it. It really is amazing.
“I think we’ve come together as a team to show others just how much as a city and a county we have to offer and we have a lot of very exciting things happening here.
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“I think it’s down to the considerable amount of momentum here – we’ve seen things happening and as they’ve happened more things have happened.
“Despite the obvious setbacks of the pandemic that momentum has continued in the background, and hopefully we can pick that up when the lockdown ends and accelerate that growth still further.
Joe Levy, managing director of Leicester-based PRS and student accommodation developer Bradgate Estates, said they had been at three MIPIMs, starting in a back street Airnb but for the last couple of years hiring a superyacht to use as a “platform to attract tier-one funders”.
He said: “We have seen tens of millions of pounds of deals been done in front of our eyes, whether it’s in a Costa Coffee or on the beach or in a conference room. MIPIM gives us a chance to get in front of all the most important CEOs and directors and we’ve seen the actual results.
“Leicester is the biggest economy in the East Midlands, we’re an hour away from London, with three fantastic universities, with excellent countryside around us.
“And this area is untapped – it’s a city that doesn’t always realise what it’s got or how good it can be – and it’s not too late to get on board with Leicester. What’s happening here is in its infancy and the reason why Leicester is different and will win when it comes out of this pandemic is that we are resilient.
“When this is all over we will come back stronger and we will be the ones to watch.”
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The discussion was one of around 100 different business events over the fortnight, which continues this week.
Others included a schools and business leaders dinner held at Leicestershire County Cricket Club to build on work already being done encourage entrepreneurs to share their expertise with the world of education.
Business consultant Ian Guyler hosted the socially-distanced meal which took place on the eve of the new lockdown.
He said: “It was all about schools and businesses talking to each other and breaking down barriers. The thought behind it is if you want things to change and improve you have to do it from the very top.”
A brochure for the two week festival is available online.
Scott Knowles, chief executive of East Midlands Chamber, said: “The Leicester Business Festival is always a special event that showcases the world-class innovation and creativity existing across Leicestershire.
“This year it’s even more important to have such a positive platform that will highlight the services and products available for aiding business development – vital resources for the firms now seeking to get on with their economic recovery.”