A one-day conference for SMEs in Leicestershire focusing on the workforce, energy, finance, personal resilience and more.
We’ve all heard about the cost of living crisis but there’s also a cost of doing business crisis! High and unpredictable energy prices, recruitment challenges, late payers and the rising cost of debts, to name a few. This one-day conference is aimed at small to medium-sized businesses in Leicester and Leicestershire looking for tools, tips and information to keep themselves and their businesses on track, not just for survival, but also to thrive and grow in 2023/4.
LLEP Board Directors, Glynis Wright MBE and Sonia Baigent will host the day.
You can view host and speaker profiles on this page and download the conference leaflet here.
AGENDA AND THEMES
Strong workforce strong business
i) Effective, practical ways to overcome recruitment challenges with Alpa Chauhan and Shelley Drew, Senior Economic Regeneration Officers – Leicester Employment Hub, Anna Cyhan, Economic Growth and Investment Officer (skills) – LLEP, James Billingham, Career Development Manager – De Montfort University.
Find out about free, impartial recruitment offers, apprenticeships plus how to fill vacancies from the Employment Hub. The LLEP team will cover the importance of building a skills pipeline through schools, colleges and universities and their free employer guide ‘Building the Workforce of the Future’. This will be followed by the benefits and opportunities of using students and graduates on funded internships specifically for SME businesses.
ii) From Fixing to Flourishing with Sally Newnham, Mental Health and Productivity Pilot (MHPP)
This session will explore the impact good wellbeing at work policies and practices have, moving away from fixing the broken, to enabling human flourishing. Using the latest research MHPP partners with organisations across the Midlands’ region to enhance their workplace wellbeing to help them to retain their expert team members, recruit the very best talent, enhance productivity and create opportunities for all to flourish.
Energy – save money, save time, save the planet
i) Buying in an unregulated Energy Market with Azar Khan, Axiom Energy
Buying energy, approaching the energy market and factors to consider when approaching your energy contract. How far ahead should businesses plan? What can businesses do whilst tied into a contract? Deciphering the benefits to the customer.
ii) How To Complete An Energy Audit In Your Business with Christiane Startin-Lorent, De Montfort University
This short session will help you to understand where to start and how to complete an energy audit in your business. You will take away information which will help you to take action to reduce your energy use and save money. We will also guide you to further help that is available.
Look after the numbers
i) Legal Tips to thrive in 2023 with Steven Mather
Steven Mather, solicitor introduces his top legal tips to business owners looking to thrive in 2023. From ensuring your contracts work to improving cash flow, and understanding what happens when things go wrong – getting out of contracts and leases. A thriving business may see opportunity in the road ahead too, so Steven will look at what that could mean for your business too.
ii) Strategies to maximise opportunities and avoid distress or insolvency with Sonia Baigent, Assist Business Consulting
This session will explore the key strategies that maximise opportunities to succeed whilst simultaneously avoiding the pitfalls that can lead to distress or insolvency. We will use real life examples and experiences to identify the critical crossroads across the lifecycle of a business and look at navigating your decision-making process to grow and thrive.
Business owners and directors face a daily challenge to manage the many opposing needs of the business and its stakeholders and this session will look at how you can bring focus and clarity to everyday decisions, as well as covering the support and options available to businesses in times of distress.
Leading in challenging times
i) Case study – Creating new opportunities in difficult times with Saleem Arif of ReviewSolicitors
Saleem, drawing on his past experiences, will give his top tips for launching new ventures and expanding existing businesses, under tough conditions. He will also cover strategies needed to increase the likelihood of success.
ii) Case study – Five tips to double your business in 2023 with Sam Goddard of St James Systems
Sam will provide his top tips on using internet marketing using no or low-cost methods, to grow your business like wildfire!
iii) Case study – Attract and retain: Make your size your strength with Stu Spencer, Charnwood Accountants.
Stu Spencer, accountant, considers some of the common employee benefit options, their potential tax benefits and up front costs to employers. Stu will also cover additional ‘benefits’ that can be provided to employees to attract and retain them in a competitive market, and how businesses can include these to compliment their organisation and set them apart from their competitors.
iv) 5 Microsoft 365 hacks to increase your productivity (virtual presentation) with Caitlin Davies
Microsoft 365 and Teams are powerful productivity tools that empower every person and organisation to achieve more, with less. However, have you ever wondered ‘How can I maximise this?’ Listen in on this session to discover lesser-known productivity tips and tricks using tools that are integrated into Microsoft 365 and Teams.
The day will include case studies from local businesses as well as a marketplace where you will find current business support from local providers. So join us and arm yourself with a range of valuable tools and information to help your business grow.
Includes refreshments during the day and free lunch. More details will be added to this page asap.
BOOK NOW!
If you have any accessibility requirements or dietary requirements, please contact BGevents@bizgateway.org.uk before the workshop.
The Marketplace – find out about business support available from:
- Axiom Energy
- Barclays Eagle Labs
- Business Gateway Growth Hub
- Centre for Organisational Resilience
- De Montfort University
- East Midlands Chamber
- East Midlands Cyber Resilience Centre
- Embark CSR
- Federation of Small Businesses
- Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership
- Leicester City Council
- LUInc (Loughborough University business incubator for the LLEP-supported Wayfinder programme)
- NatWest
- ReviewSolicitors
- Sir Thomas White Loan Charity
- Steven Mather Solicitor
- The Anderson Partnership
- University of Leicester School of Business
Please note: This event is fully funded and FREE for you to attend. In return, we ask for a few minutes of your time to complete an SME Enrolment form, if your business has not already done so. Only one form per business is required. Without a completed form we cannot guarantee your place on this or future Business Gateway events. Further details will be provided upon booking.
*agenda subject to change.
