08.00 - 08.30

Registration / Refreshments / LSEP exhibition

08.30 - 08.35

Welcome - Chairman of Leicester Shire Day

Philip Hammersley

The dawn of a new relationship with the business sector

08.35 - 08.45

The new Leicestershire Economic Strategy

Prof. Shirley Pearce

08.45 - 09.00

The Leicester Shire Economic Baseline

Kishor Tailor

An interactive review - perception versus reality

09.00 - 09.15

What's in it for businesses?

Chair of LSEP

Overthrowing the legacy of cynicism

Many businesses may feel they have been there… done it… and failed miserably. Why should this be any different?

How do individual companies benefit from Leicestershire's economic success? How can they benefit in other ways too? The new Leicester Shire Business Network ( LSBnet.co.uk )

What role will LSEP take to build the relationships between businesses and LAs?

What are the key drivers of change that businesses should consider?

09.15 - 09.25

Education & Training

Chris Hall

What Do We Want?

The success of Leicestershire as an economy is dependent on a better skilled workforce. Training and education must achieve world-class standards if the local economy is to flourish. But is the local workforce geared to the future needs of the Leicestershire economy? Where are the knowledge and skill gaps? How can we influence Schools & FE colleges to be more focused on preparing people for the real world of work? How can the business sector work more closely with training and education bodies to bridge knowledge or skill gaps?

09.25 - 09.35

Going for Growth. The Leicester Shire Mindset

Mary Irving

Is Leicestershire fired up for economic growth? Does it support a “CAN-DO” business mindset? Do we feel part of a dynamic enterprise culture? Is there a shortage of good ideas? … Ambition? … Dynamic innovators? … Support mechanisms?
Is Leicestershire poised to reach its potential or frustrated by fragmented economic policy decisions? How can we as individual business people make a valuable contribution?

09.35 - 09.45

Building Local Business on Firm Foundations

Richard Brucciani

There are essential building blocks that help to make the local economy tick. Transport and creating premium sites for business have been hot topics for many years. But are we moving in the right direction? Is there enough being done to support an ICT infrastructure? What other key infrastructure strategies are important? Linked strategies between the City and County Councils?

How much does it cost business to get these building blocks wrong? What competitive edge does it give businesses to get them right?

09.45 - 09.55

Harnessing Technology & Innovation

Mick McLaughlin

The need to embrace and build new emerging technologies into our business processes is critical. If we don’t, yesterday’s winners could well be tomorrow’s losers. So, are we doing enough to help businesses get the advice they need? Do enough companies know about the technology grants, expertise and local resources that could help make them more competitive? With three excellent universities in Leicestershire, each with a reputation for innovation in technology, are we making the best use of them? Are the Universities doing enough to collaborate with Leicestershire businesses? What can we do to aid better communication about the resources and opportunities available?

09.55 - 10.05

Image & Identity. The X Factor for Business Success - Steve King

Does the image and identity of Leicestershire affect business performance? Recruiting from across the UK… supporting the profile of a business… keeping good staff… Is it just about external perception? Is there a need for high local self esteem… Do we celebrate enough the benefits of working in Leicestershire? Does external perception affect internal esteem? Image & identity requires that the other four areas already covered are strong - otherwise it's empty rhetoric.

10.05 - 10.10

Introduction to the Workshops

Philip Hammersley

10.10 - 10.30

Break & Relocation to Workshop rooms

10.30 - 11.30

Workshops (SEE OPTIONS)

11.30 - 12.00

Relocation to Main Hall

Lunch provided during entry to final session

12.00 - 12.10

Online for Success

Rob Potter

Presenting a new innovative Internet platform to make “your business our future”… and “our future you business”

12.10 - 12.30

Plenary: Workshop feedback

Chair: Philip Hammersley

12.30 - 12.55

Questions & Answers

Chair: Philip Hammersley

12.55 - 13.00

Summing up