Supporting businesses: Leicestershire County Council Investing in Economic Growth January Version 1

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1 Supporting businesses: Leicestershire County Council Investing in Economic Growth January 2013

2 contents Foreword 3 The County of Leicestershire 4 Working in Partnership 4 Supporting Our Local Businesses and Entrepreneurs to Prosper 5-6 Open for Business 9 2 Investing in Infrastructure, Employment Sites and Housing Investing in Our People and Skills Economic Intelligence 14 MIRA Technology Park, Hinckley

3 Leicestershire County Council is committed to supporting and promoting local businesses and strengthening Leicestershire s diverse and dynamic economy. Cllr Nick Rushton Leader of Leicestershire County Council Foreword Leicestershire is a prosperous, diverse and attractive county. Together with the city of Leicester it has an economy worth 19.4 billion, the largest in the East Midlands, with over 22 million consumers within a three-hour drive. The County Council is a top-performing authority committed to supporting local businesses and growing the economy. It is no secret that we face many complex financial, social and environmental concerns, particularly balancing the challenges of delivering growth and sustainability alongside those of affordability and climate change. Working with our partners, in particular through the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP), and with our successful and innovative private sector, we intend to realise our aspirations by shaping our economy to deliver tangible, substantial benefits to the businesses and the people of Leicestershire. This document sets out how the council is practically supporting business through a range of existing and new activities and investments. Blake Pain Cllr Blake Pain Lead Member for Economic Development I have high aspirations for the economy of the county. The County Council, using its influence, knowledge and resources, will work to further unlock the area s economic potential and create new opportunities both for local businesses and companies wishing to invest and locate here. Cllr Blake Pain 3

4 The County of Leicestershire Leicestershire is home to just over 650,000 people. It is an attractive, predominantly rural county but with several important urban centres, including at Loughborough, Hinckley, Coalville, Market Harborough and Melton Mowbray, and a large number of smaller towns and villages. The county s economy is diverse with a particular strength in small and medium sized enterprises. It is perfectly located, at the heart of the country, to capitalise on its strengths in food & drink, manufacturing, distribution & logistics and tourism & hospitality. The county is a world leader in innovation too, attracting investment in the knowledge-based economy, high-tech engineering and ground breaking environmental, medical, creative and space & aerospace industries. The transport, communications and logistics sectors are important to the area due to its central location and excellent transport links. 4 Working in Partnership The County Council is a key partner in the Leicester & Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP), a public/private sector partnership responsible for improving the area s economic prosperity. Information about the LLEP can be found at The LLEP has developed an Economic Growth Plan for which sets out strategic priorities and key actions for improving the subregion s economy. The LLEP s Plan can be viewed at Contact details for the LLEP and its staff are available at The council has agreed Economic Growth Priorities which set out how the council will support the LLEP to deliver growth in the county. In particular the council will seek to support the following priorities: Worklessness - Employer and stakeholder engagement - Placing the work-ready in employment - Improving work readiness Employment Land & Buildings - Broadband - Site enablement and direct investment A specific sector focus on Distribution and Logistics Improving Capital Finance Availability Enterprise Growth - Supporting the rural economy - Business advice and mentoring - Supporting social enterprise The council also works closely with other agencies to support the rural economy through the Leicestershire Rural Partnership, and collaborates on a range of priority issues through its local strategic partnership, Leicestershire Together. A County Work and Skills Board has been set up to co-ordinate action to improve skills and address worklessness. Beacon Hill, Leicestershire

5 Harborough Innovation Centre Supporting our Local Businesses and Entrepreneurs to Prosper 5 The council is taking a wide range of actions to support Leicestershire businesses. These actions include making loans and grants available, providing support and advice, and reducing the burden of regulation. Leicestershire is home to many companies of global and national importance, including Next, Caterpillar, Master Foods, Samworth Brothers, DHL, MIRA, Santander, Marks and Spencer, Triumph Motorcycles and Boden. The council is committed to ensuring that the county s attractiveness as a location for these major businesses is maintained and enhanced, and that existing businesses are able to prosper and new investors and employers attracted to locate here. A large proportion, however, of the county s businesses are small and medium sized enterprises and it is these firms which often have the most difficulty in accessing the finance, advice and support they need. For this reason many of the measures described in this document are aimed specifically at the county s smaller firms. Rural businesses are also important to the county economy and are supported through a number of schemes coordinated by the County Council-led Leicestershire Rural Partnership. Loans Fund for Small Businesses The County Council will deliver a 1 million business loans fund for small businesses struggling to obtain capital elsewhere. This will complement a 8m grant scheme the LLEP is establishing for small and medium sized manufacturing businesses. Information will be available on the County Council Business pages in spring

6 6 Rural Capital Grants Currently 300,000 of grants has been allocated to support rural businesses until 2015 under the Rural Capital Programme. In the past the council has delivered a number of successful Rural Grant schemes, for example: Secured 140,000 from the Government, to support village shops and post offices in rural areas, levering over 420,000 of private sector investment, creating or safeguarding over 90 jobs and supporting 55 businesses. 150,000 has been invested through the INSPIRE programme to support growth in rural businesses, leveraging 267,500 of private sector investment and providing 36 jobs across the county. Sectors that have been supported include tourism, food and drink and equestrian. Over 130 businesses were supported through ICT workshops to improve their competitiveness and increase their profile on the web. Social Enterprise Grants The council has commissioned CaSE-da (Cooperative & Social Enterprise Development Agency) to support development of the Social Enterprise sector in the county. Details about CaSE-da and the work they are doing for us can be seen at: bigsocietysocialenterprise For the Social Enterprise Grants, CaSE-da have subcontracted this element of work to the Leicestershire & Rutland Community Foundation. Details can be seen on the following page of the Community Foundation s website. and

7 County Council Procurement The council spends more than 300 million per year, on goods, works and services, ranging from domiciliary care to passenger transport. More than half (52 per cent, or 174 million) of this spending is with small and medium sized firms. Local businesses are supported through the council s procurement activity wherever possible, with 120m spent each year using local services. Contract opportunities over 20,000 in value are all offered locally via Tendering schedules for all procurement categories will soon be published in advance to enable local companies to bid for and establish joint/consortia bidding arrangements. The council has been working with suppliers to reduce the costs of existing contracts and is using electronic auctions, which offer a quick and cost effective way of awarding contracts. Working as part of the LLEP s Procurement Taskforce, the council is promoting local procurement and simplifying procurement processes for local firms. Tourism The County Council strongly backs the local tourism and hospitality sectors. Its own eight museums, with over 700,000 visitors and 19 country parks spanning 700 hectares, attract thousands of visitors to the county each year. The council will invest 195,000 annually between 2013 and 2016 in the provision of tourism support services by Leicester Shire Promotions. This investment will increase the number of leisure and business tourism visitors to the county, an increase in the spend by visitors, and improvements to the range and quality of attractions, facilities and accommodation. Creative Industries Local cultural and creative businesses are supported by the Creative Leicestershire partnership. Working with artists, agencies, organisations, local people and businesses, Creative Leicestershire, which the council hosts and funds, offers funding opportunities, arts and media training, networking, job opportunities, business advice, seminars, on-line directories and events. 7

8 Small and new businesses can benefit from being mentored by colleagues in established businesses. Business Mentors Leicestershire County Council libraries offer a wide range of information for small businesses online. The service is currently exploring the establishment in libraries of Enterprise Hubs to act as centres for business advice and support aimed particularly at small and start-up companies. Small and new businesses can benefit from being mentored by colleagues in established businesses. The council is working alongside the LLEP to help develop mentoring locally by: - Promoting and signposting opportunities via business networks; and - Working with the LLEP to provide continuing access to the Government-sponsored Get Mentoring training and networking resources through the LLEP and County Council websites. (from early 2013). 8

9 Loughborough Technology Centre Open for Business 9 Inward Investment The LLEP hosts an inward investment service which provides a tailored service to make your investment, relocation or development as effective and straightforward as possible. Services include: property searches, visit co-ordination, liaison with local planning departments, business development and support, and identification of funding. Further information can be found at Investment/inward-investment/ Rural Planning Toolkit Working with partners and businesses through the Leicestershire Rural Partnership the council has produced an online Planning Toolkit for rural businesses. This will help rural businesses secure planning permission for appropriate developments by providing the local businesses, planners and other agencies with guidance and advice. The Toolkit can be accessed at Better Business for All Better Business for All (BBfA) is the LLEP s response to the government s priority of reducing the regulatory burden on business. It has been set up to encourage business growth by making business regulations easier to access and understand. It is a local partnership between businesses and regulatory services, including the County Council s Trading Standards service, which contends that: Compliance with regulations can support your business to grow; and Compliance with regulations is not as onerous as is often believed. Local regulators across Leicester and Leicestershire are committed to supporting businesses by providing advice and guidance that helps them understand and meet their responsibilities. Through developing a new relationship between businesses and regulatory services, BBfA aims to reduce both real, and perceived regulatory barriers to business growth. Trading Standards The Council s Trading Standards Service provides advice to businesses, particularly small businesses, to help them to comply with consumer protection legislation, including a range of tailored leaflets available at The Service also provides an online support service, ERWIN, which can be tailored to business sectors, to make it easier for businesses to help themselves. See

10 Grove Park, Enderby 10 Investing in Infrastructure, Employment Sites and Housing The County Council is working closely with developers, local planning authorities and the LLEP to bring forward employment sites and improve the supply of housing, including through improvements to key infrastructure. The council will seek to deploy a range of funds, such as the Growing Places Fund administered by the LLEP, and its own resources, to achieve this. Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park The council has agreed to invest up to 1.5 million in the further expansion of the Science and Enterprise Park (LUSEP), and is committed to working with Loughborough University and Charnwood Borough Council to secure early provision of an Advanced Technology Innovation Centre and of separate premises which existing LUSEP businesses require to facilitate their expansion. Enterprise Zone - MIRA The council is working with the LLEP to support the implementation of the MIRA Technology Park near Hinckley which has been designated as one of only 24 Enterprise Zones in England. The Enterprise Zone offers a combination of financial incentives (including discounted business rates) and reduced planning restrictions to potential occupiers. It will provide an attractive business location for global transport technology businesses (research & development expertise, advanced engineering consultancy and comprehensive testing facilities), who will benefit from privileged and discounted access to the MIRA facilities and extensive laboratory complexes, many of which are the only such facilities in the UK. Major Investments & Opportunities The council is working closely with the LLEP and district councils on major inward investment sites in the county. At the former Astra Zeneca site in Charnwood, a local Task Force successfully worked with the pharmaceutical company to mitigate against the economic impact of the closure. The Task Force is now working closely with the new owner, J&A Young, to promote and accelerate the site for re-use and redevelopment. At Glenfield Business Park in Blaby the county has worked with the developer Wilson Bowden to secure Growing Places Funding from the LLEP to accelerate the development of the mixed use housing and major employment site.

11 2.1m Growing Places Funding has been committed by the LLEP to unlock infrastructure projects schemes in Leicestershire. Schemes that are already set to benefit include 1.6m Glenfield Park and 0.5m for Melton Mowbray Office Park. Industrial Premises The County Council has a number of Industrial Units available to rent throughout the county. These are situated in Ashby de la Zouch, Coalville, Earl Shilton, Hinckley, Loughborough, Market Harborough, Measham and Narborough. Distribution and Logistics The council recognises the important role and potential of the Distribution and Logistics sector in the county and will work with developers, the LLEP and local planning authorities to facilitate development in appropriate locations. There are major expansion opportunities for the sector within the county, including the Strategic Rail Freight Terminal (Roxhill) proposed to the north of East Midlands Airport. Broadband 3.14m has been secured from the Government and the County Council is investing 4m of its own resources to support the deployment of superfast broadband to at least 90% of business and residential premises in Leicestershire. The council is also exploring the establishment of pilot schemes to improve broadband connectivity to rural businesses and employment sites. Investment in Transport Infrastructure Economic growth will also be supported by some key investments in transport infrastructure, including: A 14.76m road scheme to link Loughborough Town Centre, currently divided by the A6. This will help regenerate Loughborough, creating jobs and improving economic prosperity. centre_transport_proposals Improvements to the A426 through Blaby and measures to tackle congestion in Loughborough and Coalville using 4m of Local Sustainable Transport Funding secured from central Government. transport_fund The provision of three park and ride facilities which aim to relieve congestion and reduce pollution on key, in-bound city centre routes and provide residents with a cost-effective and convenient access to work opportunities in Leicester City Centre and leisure. Housing The council is taking action to support Leicestershire s housing market as well as helping meet local housing needs. These actions will stimulate the wider economy. The council has spent 1m of New Homes Bonus (NHB) funding over two financial years (2011/12 and 2012/13) to fund the provision of new affordable homes in villages. This has helped draw down 7m of affordable housing investment for the county. htm?id= In 2013/14 it is anticipated that NHB will be invested in the provision of more rural affordable homes and affordable accommodation for the elderly. The council is providing 10million to LloydsTSB to offer affordable mortgages to first time buyers through the Lend a Hand Scheme. Under the scheme first time buyers are able to obtain a mortgage with a 5% deposit helping them to get on the property ladder. Around 400 first time buyers will benefit from the scheme and that in turn should result in a further 2,000 house moves. This should not only help people into homes but also boost the local economy. 11

12 12 Investing in our People and Skills Through the County Work and Skills Board the council will improve the co-ordination and practical implementation of a range of services (including those provided by Job Centre Plus, Further Education Colleges, Universities, training and work programme providers, and local authorities) to help people into work. The overall aim of this work is to get more local people into jobs, raise the skills levels of residents and reduce demands on services. Apprenticeships and Training The council is pursuing a range of initiatives to help people become work-ready and access employment opportunities. These include: A range of higher level apprenticeships offered by the Adult Learning Service through the Higher Apprenticeship Fund enabling businesses to upskill their workforces. Offering free classes for adults to gain a nationally recognised qualification in English or Maths at 50 venues across the county. Installing two new computer suites in Loughborough s Moira Centre and Coalville Resource Centre to deliver new adult learning courses. Providing a comprehensive range of computer qualifications for beginners and up to Level 3 learners. Helping Leicestershire residents, for whom cost is a barrier, with the costs of bus travel to work, training and interviews. Version 1

13 The overall aim of this work is to get more local people into jobs, raise the skills levels of residents and reduce demands on services. Offering people the opportunity to Learn, Earn and Work through the council s apprenticeship scheme, either at an advanced or intermediate level. The council provides places in the following areas; Business and Administration or Financial Shared Customer Service. Hosting the very first highways-based Skills Academy in the UK, through the Midlands Highway Alliance. The Academy offers on and off-site training opportunities, approved training schemes in conjunction with partners such as the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Transport Planning Society, STEM Ambassador training and community and school engagement projects including the Bridge to Schools programme. work_streams/national_skills_academy.htm Funding a unique Wheels to Work scheme, lending motor scooters to residents in rural areas so they can get to work, college or training. 13

14 Bottesford Croxton Kerrial Castle Donington Waltham on the Wolds Nether Broughton Kegworth Stonesby Hathern Moira MELTON MOWBRAY LOUGHBOROUGH Shepshed A607 Quorn Thringstone Ashby de la Zouch Sileby Mountsorrel COALVILLE A6 Measham Syston A50 Ibstock Anstey Birstall Thurmaston Groby Ratby Market Bosworth Newbold Verdon Desford A47 Earl Shilton HINCKLEY Tilton on the Hill LEICESTER Braunstone Enderby A47 Oadby Wigston Narborough Countesthorpe Fleckney Broughton Astley A6 Kibworth Beauchamp M1 Gilmorton A50 MARKET HARBOROUGH LUTTERWORTH Cottesbach Economic Intelligence 14 The latest business data and economic intelligence can be accessed at Leicestershire Statistics and Research Online (LSRO) The council s Research and Insight Team works with the LLEP to provide and commission high quality economic intelligence. Products include annual business surveys, economic assessments, unemployment bulletins and employment land studies. The annual business survey provides a comprehensive picture of local business optimism and performance. The results inform economic development plans for the area, shape future strategy and investment decisions and address issues such as skills shortages, transport issues and recruitment difficulties. leicester_and_leicestershire_business_survey_2011

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16 If you require this information in an alternative version such as large print, Braille, tape or help in understanding it in your language, please contact Communities and Places Team, Chief Executives Department Leicestershire County Council County Hall Glenfield LE3 8RA L0677 JANUARY