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Leicester Businesses Help Signpost

  • 39 resources

This is a list of sources of help for businesses in Leicester & Leicestershire. If you’re an organisation that provides help contact us at signpost@leicesterstartups.com to suggest a listing.

Curated by Leicester Startups CIC

  • Leicester & Leicestershire
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She Inspires

Provides support to women-led start-ups across the UK

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.

LLEP Business Gateway Growth Hub

Business Support for Leicester and Leicestershire Businesses

Signposting service for businesses seeking advice, information and funding.

Leicester Hackspace

venue for makers of digital, electronic, mechanical and creative projects

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.

Innovative Leicestershire

We are beacons of Midlands innovation

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.

MSDUK

Champions of the best of British Non-white Ethnic Minority Businesses

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.

Creative Leicestershire

Advice, support & growth for creative enterprises across Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland

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.

BID Leicester

Business-led, not for profit organisation working to transform Leicester city centre, making it a better place to live, work, visit, study and do business.

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

The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity

Interest free personal loans for new businesses, businesses needing investment and for the study of postgraduate education

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.

DMU Fashion and Textiles Hub

Take your fashion and textile business to the next level

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.

REAL Initiative

Training, mentoring and coaching for documentary filmmakers and digital artists in Leicester/shire

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.

Barclays Eagle Labs

business support, growth programmes and events for the innovators, founders and entrepreneurs across Leicestershire.

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

East Midlands Create Growth

Offering high-potential organisations funded mentoring, access to peer networks, and more

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.

Leicester Writers Club

A community collectively help and support the members towards the goal of getting published

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).

De Montfort University Student & graduate entrepreneurship

Interested in self employment, freelancing or starting a business? DMU's Enterprise and Entrepreneurship team can help.

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.

The Prince’s Trust

free support to develop the skills and confidence you need to find a job or start a business.

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?

Leicester Startups

Support for early stage innovative, scalable startups

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.

The Asian Writer

The voice of British Asian writing and is for readers and writers interested in South Asian literature.

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

Apparel & Textiles Manufacturers Federation

the voice of apparel & textile manufacturer

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.

DOCK Leicester

Leicester’s hub for high tech, low carbon and innovative businesses

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

British Business Bank

Government-owned business development bank dedicated to making finance markets work better for smaller businesses

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

Leicester City Council Workspaces

A range of commercial properties for sale and to let including other workspaces it manages in the city

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

Free Legal Advice Clinic at University of Leicester

The Legal Advice Clinic offers free legal advice to the general public

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

Space Park Leicester

A collaborative community at the forefront of the UK space sector

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

Innovate UK EDGE

Bespoke support that grows and scales innovative businesses

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

Loughborough Talent Match

Connecting Loughborough Uni talent with business

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.

LUinc.

Loughborough University’s business incubator

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.

Create Leicester

Bringing together Leicester's digital design community

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

Loughborough University Science & Enterprise Park

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.

Leicestershire Business Advice Service

Supporting Leicestershire's business owners and entrepreneurs

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.

NBV Enterprise Solutions

business support for start-ups and established businesses wishing to grow

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.

Virgin Startup

Help founders to start, fund and scale the businesses

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

HQ Recording Studio

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.

FSB East Midlands

Our mission is to help smaller businesses achieve their ambitions

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

Film Leicester

Film Leicester are here to make Leicestershire a destination for Film & TV Production.

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.

Charnwood Campus

Life Sciences Cluster Support

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

East Midlands Chamber

Connecting, championing and supporting local businesses, organisations and communities.

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.

Creative Coffee Leicester

Meet up and networking event for the creative community.

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.

Made Smarter

Boosting UK manufacturing growth across the East Midlands

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.

Leicester College Industry Placements & T Levels

T-Level industry placements students to help your business