Final line-up revealed for launch of Leicestershire Innovation Festival 2024

All tickets have now been reserved for the sold-out launch event of Leicestershire Innovation Festival 2024.

Every place on the waiting list for returns for the event – taking place at Space Park Leicester on Monday 5 February – has also now been taken.

The LLEP Business Gateway Growth Hub is leading the launch event, as well as the festival and – for the first time in 2024 – the Leicestershire Innovation Awards as well.

Monday’s free launch event will include a host of speakers discussing the festival theme of ‘Small Change, Big Impact’.

Among them will be Martin McTague OBE, National Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), who will provide the keynote.

Mr McTague and FSB Senior Policy Manager for Innovation, Chris Russell, will also discuss findings from the FSB’s recent Tech Tonic report, which researched small business innovation in the UK.

Leicestershire Innovation Festival is an annual celebration of ideas and improvements in businesses of all sizes operating in Leicester and Leicestershire. 

Next week’s launch event will kick off a fortnight of sessions looking at how simple and inexpensive changes can help businesses boost their productivity.

Guests confirmed for the launch event include:

• Ashraf Attia, CEO of Leicester-based fintech company Predictiva
• Chloe Sproston, Creative Director of Ashby-based office design specialist Blueprint Interiors
• Byron Dixon OBE, CEO of Leicester-based biotechnology company Micro-Fresh
• Dr Chris Owen, MD of Owen and Partners, and Programme Director for Made Smarter East Midlands
• Will Wells, Deputy Director, Research and Enterprise Division, University of Leicester
• Dr Kate Broadhurst, Senior Lecturer in Innovation and Strategy, Loughborough University
• Helen Donnellan, Pro Vice Chancellor Business and Innovation, De Montfort University.

Dr Nik Kotecha OBE DL, LLEP Innovation Board Chair, said: “Now in our sixth full year, and with a sold-out launch event with a fantastic line-up of influential business leaders and academics, the Leicestershire Innovation Festival 2024 is set to make its mark once more.

“It is a beacon of our region’s exceptional capabilities, and a catalyst to drive forward innovation across Leicestershire and further afield too.”

Leicestershire Innovation Festival 2024 is sponsored by Brewin Dolphin, Cross Productions, De Montfort University, Exemplas, Freeths, Howes Percival, ITS, Loughborough University, MIRA Technology Park, Novartis, and University of Leicester.

The launch is one of 22 free events taking place both online and at venues across the city and county between February 5 and 16. You can book now.

Tim Nathan, Managing Director of festival partner MIRA Technology Park, said: “The Leicestershire Innovation Festival is a fantastic platform showcasing incredible innovation across the region.

“The festival forms a vibrant ecosystem of next generation businesses and being a part of this is pivotal in propelling our mission forward.”

Picture shows the launch of Leicestershire Innovation Festival 2023 (Credit: LLEP/Will Johnston)