1. Business Leaders’ Briefing Thursday 25 th February 2016 City Hall, Leicester

2. Leicester Business Festival 2016 - Matthew Hayes (Champions UK) Midlands Engine - Nick Pulley (LLEP Chair) How business can influence policy - Gareth John (LBV Chair) Welcome

3. An annual two week business festival, in its second year It is about business growth, great place to do business National and International ambitions National events, run locally Explore new ways of doing business and working together Showcase the city and county at a national level What is the LBF?

4. Leicester & Leicestershire Diverse business environment Largest economy in the East Midlands - £19.4bn Per annum 33,000 businesses and 435,000 employees Great transport links 3 world class universities One of the best integrated areas in the UK

5. 2015 Festival Success Over 7000 attendees 80 Events 25 Sold Out 85% Free to Attend 95% felt the LBF was a success 100% of attendees happy with the range of events on offer

6. 2015 Festival Success 84% said they would sign up again for 2016 Over 200 publicity pieces on LBF2015 26% of Event Hosts had an increase in business as a result of the LBF Made National News – BBC East Midlands today, ITV Central News Organised in only 6 Months – Success in a Small Window

7. 2016 Festival 24 th October – 4 th November Build on the success of 2015 Festival – 12 months to plan More focus on Sectors – Themed days More External Advertising Focus on Quality of Events rather than Quantity National Conferences and Webinars Promote Inward investment and Growth

8. Why? Raise our profile – but show, not tell One of the best areas in the UK to start a business One of best connected areas– rail, road and air Regeneration & investment opportunities Centre of academic and innovation excellence Address business issues Local business growth Sustained start ups Job growth/reduction in unemployment/graduate retention Trading in new markets

9. Food & Drink Manufacturing Textiles Manufacturing Distribution & Logistics Tourism & Hospitality Creative Industries Low Carbon Professional & Financial Services Engineering & Advanced Manufacturing 8 Key Sectors

10. How to get involved - Sponsorship Extensive Packages Headline Sponsorship Event Partner Affiliate Partner

11. How to get involved - Events Host an Event Attend Events Share through your networks Register for updates www.leicesterbusinessfestival.com www.leicesterbusinessfestival.com Follow us on twitter @LBFestival and like us on Facebook /LBFest

12. Contact Us Roxanna Hayes Account Manager Ashleigh Kerr Account Manager Sophia Hayes Sponsorship akerr@championsukplc.com rhayes@championsukplc.com Shayes@championsukplc.com 08453 31 30 31

13. The Midlands Engine Nick Pulley Leicester & Leicestershire LEP 25 th February 2016

14. A brand to support collaborative working across the Midlands Focus on private sector, economic growth and productivity improvement Supported by growth plans of LEPs, local authorities and combined authorities A promotional platform for the Midlands for attracting inward investment and promoting trade, particularly from overseas The Midlands Engine

15. Sajid Javid appointed Midlands Engine ‘champion’ 13 November 2015 meeting between Sajid Javid and senior Midlands business leaders 4 December 2015 - Launch Summit of Midlands Prospectus led by Sajid Javid and Marcus Jones 2 February 2016 - Marcus Jones meeting with LA Leaders and LEP Chairs Ministerial engagement

16. Midlands Engine principles Working with Government to grow economy and close productivity gap Growing partnerships between public and private sector Building an attractive brand that is embraces our strengths and diversity Reflecting that urban centres cannot deliver aims alone Building into the day to day economic development; embracing success and sharing best practice Focusing on five themes to make step changes (now seven)

17.  17.9% of UK population (grown 7.1% between 2005 and 2014)  Economy worth £222bn, 14.6% of UK  4.8m jobs, 17.6% of GB. Almost 825,000 in wholesale / retail and 590,000 in manufacturing  Economy grown 31% over last ten years (below average UK rate, but above Northern Powerhouse, 28%)  GVA per employee is £7,000 lower than UK average (£1,460 higher than Northern Powerhouse)  Working age with NVQ4+ is 30.6%, lower than national average of 35.8% Midlands Engine stats

18. Economic messages Midlands Engine economy has done well in recent years Bettered national trends Built on globally competitive sectoral strengths Supported by top class universities and colleges Becoming an increasingly connected economy Supported by local authorities, LEPs and the wider public sector Further challenges and opportunities Downward productivity performance Low skills levels and pockets of high unemployment Low proportion of knowledge intensive businesses Limited history of the East and West working together

19. Midlands Engine initiatives Promotion - Hosting the first senior Midlands Engine inward investment mission and series of missions abroad (Chicago / Toronto in April 2016) to promote advanced manufacturing; transport technology; food and drink; healthcare and life sciences; energy; creative, digital and design; as well as business, professional and financial services. Investment pitch book of propositions launch March 2016 Inward Investment Hub - Focal Point for Midlands Engine UKTI related activity Midlands Connect - Developing the vision and strategy for transforming transport connectivity. Midlands Rail Capacity and Connectivity, Nottingham/Derby-Birmingham Capacity and Journey Time Enhancements, M1 Junctions 19 – 23A, A46 Newark northern bypass Finance for Business - JEREMIE Fund of Funds (£180m) Skills - aimed at a 100% increase in the availability and take-up of apprenticeships in manufacturing, ‘Centres of Expertise’ in Automotive; Aerospace; Rail engineering; Food Processing; and Power Generation Innovation - Evolving the Energy Research Accelerator, Low Carbon Economy - Vehicle technology Plus Major Infrastructure Projects - e.g. Infinity Park Derby Expansion Supply Chain Support –-tbc

24. Midlands Engine implementation  Permanent strategic leadership group  High profile theme leads  Use Midlands Engine brand to its fullest, for example to support 20 trade missions over 3 years  Midlands Engine implementation plan  Regular update summits and conferences

25. Midlands Engine organisation 7 Theme groups Economic planning Strategic Leadership Group Midlands Connect Skills Finance for business InnovationPromotion Secretariat (3) Supply Chain

26. “What is the best way for the business community in Leicester to influence policy of local government bodies in order to promote economic growth and prosperity in the Leicester area?” LBV CBI Chamber of Commerce IoD LABA FSB Leicestershire Business Council

27. Although originally set up to represent private sector business, the LBC is currently not functioning as intended. Members ended up on other committees and couldn’t give time required. LBC role – mainly consultative.

28. There is a need to shift LBC away from a body which is merely consulted with one which can influence. Influence can take the form of proactively suggesting solutions to business problems or issues which can then be addressed by policy and decision makers. Consultation can still be a valid part of LBC’s role provided it is done in a way which makes it meaningful.

29. Business engagement with policy/decision makers and influencers is an issue and only likely to be overcome if business people can see that engagement leads to real and identifiable change. There is a strong need for an independent LBC made up of representatives of the key representative groups.

30. LBC should work up a “best for business agenda” in Leicestershire independently from LLEP/Councils. Agenda to be agreed following input from each of the representative groups, each bringing to the table their own ideas, initiatives and results of surveys, consultations, etc

31. In setting the agenda issues could range from demonstrating a better business culture and ethics to more localised issues. Suggestions that the Chamber likely to be the most effective body to facilitate the operation of LBC through its existing resources (eg policy division). LBC's resource needs to be discussed and agreed.

32. LBC to invite LLEP/Councils to periodic meetings to communicate the business agenda and engage. LBC to be constituted as now with representatives from the participating business groups. Chair and administrator identified as key positions to fill. Business groups reconvening – 16 March 2016.