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The countdown has begun to the region’s biggest business event, the Leicester Business Festival – with one in five events being run by Â鶹´«Ã½ Leicester (Â鶹´«Ã½).



Â鶹´«Ã½ is headline partner for the festival, which features events run by local business to help local business. The aim is to share knowledge and best practice, as well as promoting growth and collaboration.

This year there are 90 events taking place from November 8 to 18, of which 18 are run by Â鶹´«Ã½, showcasing work being done by the university including:

•    Leicester Graduate City: Working with Leicester City Council and the University of Leicester, this project aims to showcase career opportunities in Leicester and increase the graduation retention rate.

•    Going Net Zero: A new toolkit to help businesses measure emissions and highlight key steps to reduce carbon emissions

•    Leicester Future Leaders: Â鶹´«Ã½, supported by business partners Freeths, Eileen Richards Recruitment and Brewin Dolphin, as well as the Office for Students, will launch a toolkit designed to help companies recruit and retain a more diverse workforce. It’s part of a long-term project that aims to ensure businesses in Leicester better reflect the city’s diverse communities.

East Midlands Chamber are also running multiple events, one of which highlights the importance of digital workplace strategy and business planning.

Nearly all events are free to attend, but it is vital that tickets are booked in advance.

Rob Ricketts, regional business development manager at Â鶹´«Ã½, said: “It is brilliant that the business community has continued their support of LBF, despite the difficulties faced over the past 18 months.

“I encourage everyone to book their tickets as soon as possible to secure their place at these incredible events – many of the events have limited numbers so be sure to sign up quickly!”

Some 37 students from Â鶹´«Ã½ and UoL have taken part in the first Leicester: Graduate City programme, spending six weeks each with a variety of local employers. Among them was Rhea Francois, a contour fashion student.

She said: “I think that internships are very useful because they help to give a bigger picture of what jobs are out there for you in a certain industry. They also provide skills that you would not necessarily learn whilst studying.

“Staying in Leicester is something that I will consider when I graduate now that I know there are jobs in Leicester within the fashion industry.”

Â鶹´«Ã½ is headline partner for the festival, which is now in its seventh year. Other partners include East Midlands Chamber and Leicester City Council.

Sponsors for 2021 are Bradgate Estates, Brewin Dolphin, Pattersons Commercial Law and the Federation of Small Business. Supporters are: Everards Brewery, Leicester Castle Business School, Highcross Leicester, Leicestershire Business Voice, British Business Bank, BID Leicester, Ladey Adey Publications, Lionheart Educational Trust, Voluntary Action Leicester, The Consultus International Group, Freeths, Bentley, Lamborghini, Mattioli Woods, Home-Fresh and the Institute of Directors.