Leicester Businesses Help Signpost

A series of free quarterly events for digital creators, producers, managers and administrators, aiming to inspire Leicester’s digital design community

Provides advice and support to manufacturing businesses on how to switch to advanced and automated technologies. The programme provides digital transformation road mapping, leadership development, grant funding and access to industrial digital technology expertise to help with implementation until 31st March 2025.

She Inspires supports women in Leicester and Leicestershire to grow their business ideas and dreams, through grants and training. All profits generated are then re-invested to provide capacity-building support to women-led organisations in the developing world.

REAL Initiative is a new, exciting free programme of support for documentary filmmakers and digital artists in Leicester/shire, who are looking to start-up or grow their business.

Our aim is to grow business skills, as well as understanding of different finance routes to business growth.It means you will gain:
free business support tailored to the specific needs of high-growth potential creative businesses
a blend of workshops and masterclasses
peer-learning opportunities
1-1 mentoring from with a focus on investment readiness.

Leicestershire County Council supports opportunities to collaborate, test new services and resolve challenges to growth across the creative sector through its Creative Leicestershire service and the WebinArt programme. These programmes provide access to a range of advice and support helping creative enterprises survive and grow and are a vital catalyst connecting people through networking opportunities, strengthening supply chains and retaining knowledge.

Leicester and Leicestershire are building an innovation ecosystem of collaboration, growth and opportunity. Our vision is for a prosperous regional economy with businesses and communities that are inclusive, productive and sustainable.

T-Level industry placements students to help your business

Signposting service for businesses seeking advice, information and funding.

Providing businesses with a range of services to help them to connect, grow and scale.

A million young people have started something with The Prince’s Trust – becoming health workers, sports coaches, youth workers, fashion designers, builders and business owners. Could you be next?

Loughborough Talent Match has been designed to help organisations, in the UK and globally, with their recruitment. We offer a range of internship programmes – Micro-Internships, Finalist Internships and Masters (Postgraduate) Internships – for UK based companies. Information, including dates and funding, can be found below.

Includes LCB Depot, Makers Yard, Beaumont Enterprise Centre, Dock, Gresham Works, Leicester Business Centre, Leicester Food Park, Linwood Workshops, and Vulcan House

MSDUK certifies businesses that are 51% or more owned, managed and controlled by non-white ethnic minorities. This allows them access to corporate procurement opportunities, world-class business mentoring, coaching and connection to a global network of partners.

e candidates may borrow up to £20,000 for busines purposes and up to £10,000 for postgraduate education purposes, to establish themselves in their chosen career. All loans are personal loans which are interest free for 9 years, repayable by equal instalments after 3 years, and are available to people aged over 18 and under 45.

A cleaner, greener, safer and more attractive environment
Raising Leicester’s profile through high quality marketing, campaigns and events
Creating a stronger business voice within Leicester

A broad spectrum of support mechanisms that help space industry ideas and businesses thrive.

We offer a range of services designed to support businesses in their innovation and growth. These include access to our talented students, research projects, knowledge transfer partnerships, consultancy projects, and support with innovation in sustainability, textile testing, and digital design in fashion and textiles.

Raise the profile of Asian writers and their works
Discover the best emerging talents and develop their writing skills
Encourage and inspire writers and nourish creativity
Champion diversity in publishing
Publish new writing by British Asian writers, online and in print

Student & graduate entrepreneurship
Enterprise at DMU
Interested in self employment, freelancing or starting a business?
DMU’s Enterprise and Entrepreneurship team can help.

Whether you want to launch a business or develop entrepreneurial skills, the Enterprise and Entrepreneurship team can help. From competitions to events, programmes and awards, there are many ways that DMU students and graduates can get involved.

We are approached every day by start-ups and existing businesses looking to grow. For these businesses we provide them with bespoke, targeted business support, drawing upon our years of experience in the field of small business support.

fully-funded programme available to entrepreneurs and business owners in Leicestershire. It provides those running or looking to start a business with expert advice and workshops, tailored to your current business stage.

We aim to work with various stakeholders such as manufacturers, designers, brands, innovation centres and Universities to promote quality production that utilises local industry, skill-base and vertical set-ups to ensure shorter supply chains.

Advice, access to funding, mentoring, training and sometimes just a friendly shoulder to lean on.

Our Leicester Law School students are trained to give legal advice, closely supervised by qualified solicitors, in the following areas:-
Contract
Consumer law
Employment
Family
Housing
Probate and Wills
We also have a Windrush Compensation Project for people affected by the Windrush scandal

Creative Coffee is Leicester’s most friendly and creative meet up. A monthly event that connects the creative community to businesses, academics and each other. It’s a new way to exchange ideas, foster innovation and kickstart relationships – all from a relaxed café environment. Alternating between inspiring talks, table expert discussions and informal networking is the best way to inject some creativity into your Wednesday morning! Everyone from creative agencies to freelancers and organisations looking for creative input are encouraged to attend.

offer our members a wide range of vital business services including advice, financial expertise, support and a powerful voice heard in government

Leicester Startups is a community for existing & aspiring entrepreneurs. We organise and promote mentoring, talks, advice, collaboration and workspace offerings with a “give first” ethos.

LUSEP offers outstanding opportunities for businesses of all sizes to collaborate with each other, with seamless access to Loughborough University’s world-class research base and skilled work force supply.

We empower innovation-driven businesses like yours to grow at pace and achieve their industry- and society-transforming ambitions.

The club aims to assist members’ creative development by pooling knowledge and practical experience, and providing constructive criticism for work in progress. The club was founded over 60 years ago, and its many members write within a wide range of genres — poetry, flash fiction, short stories, full length fiction in all genres, plays, screenplays and non-fiction (including everything from serious academic texts to blogs).

A relaxed, creative studio environment located in the heart of Leicester City Centre. HQ Recording Studios boasts a high quality recording facility across two rooms, with the latest in cutting edge digital software and hardware.

A community of practical and creative people and provide them with a place to pursue their projects, share techniques and concepts and learn new skills. Members have access to bike repair equipment, computers, a 3D printer, 3D miller/scanner, power tools and many other resources 24 hours a day. We also run special courses and events, in programming, arduino, electronics, soldering, and more, which are open to members of the public.

Our mission is to nurture ambitious and innovative businesses – from both on and off campus. We bring together academic and graduate entrepreneurs with emerging business founders from across Leicestershire and beyond. Ours is a rich, inclusive and supportive start-up community.

Driving growth and innovation through business support, mentoring, collaborations and sharing best industry practices

Our platform is here to enable Leicestershire’s filmmakers and talent to support and collaborate with one another so that Leicester can be known for producing some of the best independent films in the world.

high quality serviced office, industrial units, co-working space & meeting rooms for those who prefer the atmosphere of collaboration and creative stimulation.

Finance to start a business, grow to the next level, or stay ahead of the competition

Get advice to grow your business. Build a network of valuable connections. Develop new skills and knowledge. Have your say on important local matters or raise your profile. We have a range of support services, explore more by selecting the most appropriate route for you below.