A brand-new Content Creation Studio is coming to Harborough Innovation Centre! 

🎙️The HIC is launching a state-of-the-art podcast, video and live streaming room — fully equipped to bring your ideas to life. 

🎥Officially opening 1 July.

🎓Book your FREE expert-led 1-hour taster session available throughout June.

✅ Podcasters & content creators
✅ Entrepreneurs & small businesses
✅ Video marketers & YouTubers
✅ Local radio & community voices
✅ Anyone ready to level up their storytelling

📅 Limited slots available – book now

Following the success of the Lutterworth cohort, 12 Year 10 students from Welland Park Academy will take part in a week-long Business Hub Work Experience™, hosted by Market Harborough Building Society at Newcombe House. They'll learn from local professionals, build communication skills, explore career paths, plan an event and practise real-life networking.

🗣️ Support needed! Local professionals are invited to help students practise networking by simply turning up, being themselves and chatting about their work experiences.

📍 Event details: 3 July, 1.15pm – 2.30pm at Market Harborough Building Society HQ, Newcombe House, The Point, Rockingham Road, Market Harborough LE16 7QU

☕ Free refreshments are provided!

This event is organised by Harbs Collective.

Enjoy a fun evening of late-night shopping, live music, local drinks and exclusive offers from independent shops and cafés across the town centre.

🛍️ Shopping local boosts the Harborough economy, supports jobs, reduces your carbon footprint and keeps our high street thriving — plus, for every £10 spent locally, up to £5 goes back into the local economy!

🎶 Shop local, sip something lovely and soak up the atmosphere!

🗓️ Thursday 26 June | ⏰ 6–9pm | 🚗 Free Parking

Throughout the year, Robert Smyth Academy offers careers activities for all year groups. On 1 July, Year 10 pupils will participate in a Careers Day focused on job application skills, ending with a valuable mock interview with an employer. Local employers or anyone involved with recruitment are invited to volunteer.

Benefits for pupils: boosted confidence and communication, real-world job application preparation, professional interview experience and inspiration for future careers.

Benefits for volunteers: support future talent, showcase your CSR (Corporate Social Responsiblity) commitment, gain workforce insights and make a meaningful community impact.

If you're able to support this event, your involvement would be greatly appreciated!
📩 To find out more, please contact Cheryl McCarthy

🗳️Residents, businesses and organisations across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland are being encouraged to share their views on how council services should be delivered in the future.

The government wants to reduce the number of councils in England by creating a smaller number of unitary councils which would deliver all services in their area. They have instructed Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Councils to submit proposals for restructuring local government in the area.

In response, the seven district and borough councils along with Rutland County Council have collaborated on an interim plan. The North, City, South Plan proposes the creation of three unitary authorities serving a similar number of residents.

📄The councils are keen to hear from the public and have launched an engagement exercise running from 9 June to 20 July 2025. Your views will help to shape the final plan that is submitted to government in November 2025.

Showcase your success, raise your profile, and celebrate what makes your business special. These free-to-enter awards are open to tourism and hospitality businesses across Leicestershire.

An In-person workshop offering practical advice and top tips for completing your application is available:

📅 1 July, 10am–12pm at Windmill Farm Park, Kibworth Harcourt

Why enter?
✅ Boost your reputation, attract visitors, gain media exposure, celebrate your team and qualify for VisitEngland.

🌟 The Market Harborough Chamber of Commerce invites local businesses to its upcoming AGM — an opportunity to connect, share ideas and help shape the future of the local business community.

✅ Have a say on the Chamber’s direction
🤝 Network with fellow local businesses
📈 Hear how the Chamber is supporting business growth across the district
🙌 Explore opportunities to get more involved

📅 Wednesday 25 June
🕘 Networking from 9:00am | 🕤 AGM starts at 9:30am
📍 Market Harborough Building Society, The Point Business Park, LE16 7QU

✅Open to members and non-members – a great way to raise business profiles, build partnerships and support the wider community.

Local businesses can now access a range of free support sessions designed to help them grow, connect and thrive.

What’s on offer:
💼 1:1 Advice – Professional support from an experienced business advisor
👥 Workshops – Peer group sessions to build essential business knowledge
🔗 Networking Events – Share ideas and connect with fellow local businesses
💰 Grants and Finance – Find and apply for funding, and get support to develop your finance plans
🤝 Build Connections – Link up with local and national support networks

Support is delivered by Gau Naik, a certified Business Advisor with over 20 years of experience, including 14 supporting Leicestershire businesses. Gau is  Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Leicester and a Trustee of the Sir Thomas White Charity.

If you have a great idea for a project, event or local initiative, Harborough District Council offers grants to help businesses, community groups and organisations grow, celebrate and make a difference.

Grant Opportunities:

🌱 Green Growth and Innovation – for sustainable and green business projects
🏛 Heritage and Identity – celebrate local culture and history
🎉 Visitor Event – support for events that draw visitors and boost the local economy
🌾 Rural Grant – funding for rural services, facilities and improvements
🌍 Environmental Scheme – support for eco-friendly and biodiversity projects
🤝 Community Fund – for impactful, community-focused initiatives

Invest in Harborough is dedicated to supporting thriving businesses and communities — contact us here if you need help with your application.

Come along to the Harborough Innovation Centre on the first Tuesday of every month, 10am–3pm, for free expert guidance on:

✅ Business support
✅ Recruitment & apprenticeships
✅ Grants and funding
✅ Workforce development
✅ Training and more

📍 LE16 7WB | 🗓️ Monthly drop-in

🚀Interest‑free over 9 years

Who’s eligible:
📌Applicants under 45 years old
📌Must live in Leicestershire or Rutland
📌Business based in Leicestershire or Rutland
📌Loan used to start a new business or fund growth/expansion

Loan details:
Up to £20,000
Interest‑free over 9 years

Ideal for:
Young entrepreneurs and small business owners looking to launch or grow their venture locally.

De Montfort University is offering a series of free Creative Business Masterclasses to help local makers, artists and entrepreneurs grow sustainable, successful businesses.

Open to anyone working in or exploring creative business, the sessions are practical, inspiring and tailored to the needs of the creative industries.

🌟 What’s on:
🔹 July 4 – Marketing Strategy and AI 
💰 July 11 – Costing and Pricing
🛡️ July 18 – Intellectual Property 
✍️ July 25 – Copywriting

About the awards
The King’s Awards for Enterprise recognise outstanding UK business achievements in:
✨ Innovation | 🌍 International trade | 🌱 Sustainable development | 🤝 Social mobility

If awarded, businesses will:
🎉 Attend a Royal reception
🏅 Receive the award from a Lord-Lieutenant
🚩 Fly The King’s Awards flag and use the emblem on marketing materials
📜 Get a Grant of Appointment and a crystal trophy

Awards are valid for 5 years.

Benefits include:
🌎 Recognition | 📈 Commercial value | 📰 Press coverage | 💪 Staff morale boost

Apply by: 9 September 2025 

The University of Leicester School of Business has published its latest newsletter with excellent links to:

🤝Help to Grow: Management course Fully-funded 12-week programme starting 18 September to boost growth, productivity and resilience with expert mentoring and workshops

🎓 Free recruitment support to Hire a student for a placement or graduate role

🤝 Negotiation Masterclass – starts 19 November

🎓 Apprenticeship Levy funding for training and development of your workforce (£400k available)

🔬 Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) for innovation funding

🏆 Santander X UK Awards 2025 - Applications Now Open

🍃 This programme is designed for individuals seeking careers in the green economy.

🍃 It also supports those already in work who want to advance in sustainability-related roles, where carbon literacy is essential.

🍃 The bootcamp is available to residents of Leicestershire and companies based in the county.

🍃 Delivered in partnership with Leicestershire County Council, it offers free, flexible training up to 16 weeks.

🍃 Participants will develop sector-specific skills and receive dedicated support throughout the programme.

🍃 On completion, learners are guaranteed a job interview with an employer.

Earlier in June, Invest in Harborough teamed up with Greener Future Leicestershire to deliver a fantastic day of workshops focused on helping local businesses embed sustainability into their operations.

The event covered a wide range of topics, including:
📘 What is Sustainability?
📝 Action Planning for Change
💻 Digital Sustainability
💷 Funding Opportunities
📜 Understanding Legislation
🧠 Skills for a Sustainable Future
🌍 Sustainable Visitor Economy

If you missed the event, don’t worry — all the presentations, resources and workshop materials are now available online to help you start or strengthen your sustainability journey.

Greener Future Leicestershire helps local schools, businesses and groups reduce their carbon footprint and build a greener future with free expert advice and resources.

Benefits of partnering with them include:
🌱 Tailored support for eco-friendly projects
📚 Workshops and educational resources
💰 Access to funding opportunities
🤝 Community engagement and collaboration

To find out how Greener Future Leicestershire can help your organisation, get in touch today and start making a difference!