The LLEP Business Gateway Growth Hub has joined forces with Santander to offer an exclusive package of products to local export businesses.

Exporters in Leicester and Leicestershire will gain free access to Santander Navigator, a digital portal which supports the needs of export businesses, from startups through to seasoned exporters managing complex shipments.

Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) is the first LEP in the UK to offer the access to Santander Navigator.

It will enable local companies to explore opportunities in new markets around the world, find potential export partners, streamline customs processes, and overcome bureaucracy and regulatory challenges.

It also details steps needed to get products to international markets, offers insights and training for employees and new exporters, and sets out various shipping options and discounts.
Access to the portal typically costs £1,800 annually, but the Growth Hub pilot scheme allows businesses to use it for free for 12 months from their sign-up date.

It means dedicated exporting support for local firms operating in sectors including food and drink, manufacturing, retail, life sciences, and tech.

Apply for support towards energy bills for non-domestic properties which are not connected to the gas grid before Friday 28 April. You can apply for £150 fixed payment for alternative fuel use, or the high users of heating oil (kerosene) support. 

Non-domestic properties include:

• farms, warehouses, pubs and hotels run by businesses or individuals

• those run by voluntary sector organisations, such as charities

• places of worship and community halls

• public buildings, such as schools, hospitals and prisons

Are you looking to grow your business? The funded Help to Grow course could be the thing to take your business to the next stage. 

Help to Grow: Management is a hands-on practical business training course delivered by a selection of world-class business schools accredited by the Small Business Charter.

You will work on your business and decide what you want for  the future, involve colleagues and make changes as you go. You will develop a plan and gain the skills and knowledge to take your business apart and put it back together in a way that will deliver your long-term goals. 

This practical course takes place over three months, facilitated by small business experts from Leicester Castle Business School.  The focused sessions allow you to complete the course alongside running your business. It includes both online and face-to-face sessions, peer support and 1:1 mentoring.

As part of the support offered to the local business community, De Montfort University is offering fully-funded places on the next cohort.

It runs for 12 weeks online and on campus, and there is a cohort taking place online and 4 sessions at the Eco Village in Market Harborough. Please note applications for that cohort close on Thursday 27 April 2023.

Email H2GM@dmu.ac.uk to register your interest and they will be in touch with more information.

District and Borough Councils across Leicestershire are looking for a combined solution for delivering Business Support Services to local suppliers as part of the Government's levelling up agenda. This tender is about utilising the funding to improve the business circumstances in the areas covered by the partner authorities.

UK Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF) will provide £2.6bn of funding across the UK for local investment by March 2025. The UKSPF aims to build pride in place; support high-quality skills training; support pay, employment and productivity growth; and increase life chances. UKSPF is a central part of the Government’s levelling up agenda.

Through the fund each of the 7 district / borough councils in Leicestershire have been allocated an amount of funding of which approximately £710,000 is available for this call.

The Healthy Workplaces Leicestershire programme helps organisations of all sizes across the county to become healthier places to work. The tailored programme has been designed in collaboration with, and for, Leicestershire businesses, helping to ensure that the support that is most needed by the county’s workforce is available to them and their organisations.

Healthy Workplaces Leicestershire work with businesses of all sizes and types. By talking with you about your business and needs of your workforce, they will tailor the offer you receive.

Why should you sign up to Healthy Workplaces Leicestershire? 

• By signing up to Healthy Workplaces Leicestershire, you will: 

• Fully understand the health and wellbeing needs of your workforce 

• Receive bespoke guidance and goals to improve the wellbeing of your workforce 

• Easily track your progress on your online dashboard 

• Be promoted on the Healthy Workplaces Leicestershire website 

• Be able to promote yourself as an employer that cares about the health and wellbeing of your workforce with our Healthy Workplaces Leicestershire Accreditation branding 

If you would like to get involved or find out more information, please visit our website or contact a member of our team using the email address: healthyworkplaces@leics.gov.uk

WordPress Masterclass 

Date: Tuesday 25 April 2023 

Time: 9:30am - 4:30pm

WordPress powers over 43% of the web. Everything from hobby blogs to the biggest news sites online use this CMS. So there is fair chance that your website is built on the WordPress platform too.

Now it’s time for you to become an expert on your own website by joining this 1-day WordPress masterclass workshop. Discover how to use the many features of WordPress to your advantage as well as what to avoid.


Engaging employees to give a great customer experience 

Date: Tuesday 16 May 2023

Time: 9:30am - 4:30pm

Your business will probably spend a lot of money on acquiring new customers, in fact as a rule of thumb apparently it costs up to 6 times more to win a new customer than to get more business from an existing one, and a retained customer has more value over time.

If your employees are fully engaged, you will retain more customer value. Leaders need to successfully engage employees, so they are happy in their workplace and strive to deliver customer satisfaction. In turn, you will reduce staff turnover and increase customer engagement.

Getting started with marketing

Date: Wednesday 17 May 2023

Time: 9:30am - 4:30pm

Marketing. You’ve heard about it, and you know it’s important for your business, but still, you may find the task of growing your business and getting its name out there an overwhelming one.

With all the different marketing strategies and schools of thought out there ranging from content marketing to email marketing, social media marketing, influencer marketing and more—it can be difficult to choose the best way to allocate your limited amount of time and financial resources in a way that’ll get you the highest return on your marketing.

Business Support
A Business Adviser from the Business Gateway is on site at Harborough Innovation Centre on Tuesday 25 April 2023, offering free business support. If you would like to book an appointment to speak to them, please email business@harborough.gov.uk.

A free events programme has been created for female-led enterprises in the East Midlands.

The programme aims to help female-led business owners gain the tools and knowledge to make an impact in the business world and stand out from the crowd. Areas that will be covered include sales for non-sales people, time management and growth, LinkedIn and LinkedIn advertising, social media tools, and what’s new in social media. It commences in Leicester with an in-person workshop on 9 May: Marketing and more, understand how to be the best ambassador for your brand.

Following this online sessions will take place on Friday mornings from 7:30am – 9:00 am and are aimed at female business leaders who are new to marketing or have a basic understanding of marketing but need help targeting their messages and delivery.