Leicestershire Innovation Festival starts in two weeks – and BusinessLive can today reveal the full list of what’s on at the newly-expanded event.
The festival celebrates the big and small innovations, designs, inventions and developments which are helping Leicestershire businesses thrive and expand.
For 2022 it has been extended across a fortnight in order to better accommodate 22 events.
Events taking part include the fourth annual , due to take place on Thursday, February 24 - - as well as the University of Leicester’s regular Innovation Friday and a host of events targeted at SMEs.
The festival runs from February 14 to February 25, with an official launch at Space Park Leicester on Valentine’s Day. People can
The festival is led by the region’s Business Gateway Growth Hub, which provides practical tailored support for local businesses through one-to-one coaching, advice and help with funding.
The Growth Hub is part of the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) and works with small businesses as they take a more innovative approach to maintaining competitive advantage in changing markets.
2022 Leicestershire Innovation Festival Schedule
Festival Launch, Monday, February 14 (8am-12pm), Space Park Leicester:
Initiate Innovation, Tuesday, February 15 (9.30am-4.30pm), Harborough innovation Centre: Drop in to discuss your ideas face-to-face with a business adviser from groups such as the LLEP Business Gateway, Digital Upscaler and the NBV programme.
The Finance Escalator, Wednesday, February 16 (10am-12pm), online event: Join Innovate 海角视频 for a look at the different finance options for businesses from early-stage finance, through start-up to growth finance for expansion.
Meet the Founders, Wednesday, February 16 (12.30pm-2pm), online event: Join start-up founders to hear how LU Inc. – Loughborough University’s business Incubator – helped them succeed.
Financing Your Innovation with Start-up Loans, Wednesday, February 16 (12.30pm–1.15pm), online event: The British Business Bank teams up with Leicester Startups for the first of two online webinars looking at access to finance.
How To Make Your Fashion Business Succeed Today, Wednesday, February 16 (2pm-5pm), at Fashion-Enter Ltd; Seminar from the Fashion-Enter social enterprise which has £5,000 grants available to support textiles companies.
Say Hello to the Growth Hub, Thursday, February 17 (8am-4pm), at Love Business Expo: Meet business growth experts from the LLEP Business Gateway at the annual Love Business Expo in Loughborough.
How the Innovate Family Can Help Your Business Grow, Monday, February 21 (12pm-1.30pm), Leicester Innovation Hub and Online: Innovate 海角视频 leads a session introducing the financial support available in the region, with case studies from companies who have received financial support.
Q&A: LU Inc. Business Accelerator Programme, Monday, February 21 (2pm-4pm), online: Team members from Loughborough University’s business Incubator introduce founders from their innovative and supportive start-up community.
Thinking Differently for Business Growth, Tuesday, February 22 (9am-1pm), Charnwood Innovation Centre: Medilink Midlands and Charnwood Campus – the first Life Sciences Opportunity Zone in the 海角视频 – host an event setting out how innovation is the cornerstone of business success.
Design 101: How Prototyping Works, Tuesday, February 22 (12-1pm), online: Find out how De Montfort University’s Design Unit could transform your business, and learn how the product design process works, from concept to completion.
Innovation in the Themed Entertainment Industry: Panel Discussion, Tuesday, February 22 (12.30pm-2pm), online: Experts from AV and immersive media specialists Holovis, in Hinckley, take part in a panel discussion.
What It Takes to Raise Equity Finance, Tuesday, February 22 (2pm-4pm, online: Oxford Innovation hosts a seminar where audience members can speak with experts about raising equity.
Collaborating to Bring Sustainable Innovation to Packaging, Tuesday, February 22 (2pm-4pm), online: The team at Aquapak Polymers describe how they are using a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Loughborough University to develop environmentally-friendly polymers for recyclability of packaging.
Hydrogen in the Midlands, Wednesday, February 23 (9.30am-10.30am), online: Anthony Baxendale, head of Horizon Scanning for HORIBA MIRA chairs a discussion taking in fuel cell solutions through to hydrogen-powered HGVs and more.
Financing your Innovation with Business Angel Investment, Wednesday, February 23 (12.30pm–1.15pm) online: The British Business Bank and Leicester Startups present the second of their online webinars for the festival looking at access to finance.
Digital UpScaler Advice, Wednesday, February 23 (2pm-4pm), online: The Digital UpScaler Team provides one-to-one digital advice and expertise to businesses looking to scale up. The ERDF-funded project is run by East Midlands Chamber.
Technical Innovation to support High Quality Care, Thursday, February 24 (10am-11am), online: Medilink and De Montfort University consider developments in technology supporting future healthcare.
Getting Wellbeing Right: An Innovative Approach To Workplace Health, Thursday, February 24 (12pm-2pm), online: Steve Perkins Associates provides innovative approaches to workplace health protection, which will be of particular interest to construction and manufacturing.
LeicestershireLive Innovation Awards 2022, Thursday, February 24 (6pm onwards), King Power Stadium: The fourth LeicestershireLive Innovation Awards celebrate the achievements of local businesses.
Innovation Friday, Friday, February 25 (10am-1pm), UoL School of Business: Funding for Innovation is the theme as the monthly event from Leicester Innovation Hub relocates to the University of Leicester’s new School of Business building on the Brookfield Campus.
Carbon Reduction Training: An Introduction for SMEs, Friday, February 25 (1pm-2pm), online: Find out about carbon reduction and what climate change means for your business. Part of the Race to Zero Carbon Accelerator programme, based at the University of Leicester Innovation Hub.
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Dr Nik Kotecha is the founder of Loughborough-based Morningside Pharmaceuticals and chairs the LLEP’s innovation board.
He said: “It’s great that the 2022 festival has been expanded to two weeks and the Growth Hub team have done an excellent job in working with our partners to put on a full schedule of in-person and online events.
“Innovation does not have to cost a lot of money or time.
“Our calendar of events for 2022 offers businesses small and large a raft of ideas and opportunities for increasing productivity, innovation and competitiveness in 2022 and beyond.”
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