Charnwood Business Guide

CHARNWOOD BUSINESS GUIDE

App & Design

Invest in the future of your company with an Apprenticeship

At Loughborough College, we work with employers to design and deliver Training & Apprenticeship programmes that are perfectly suited to their needs. Whether you’re looking to take on a brand new Apprentice or develop your in-house training, speak to our Business Development Team to find out how we can help you.

We o er programmes in:

• Engineering & Technology

• Science & Pharmaceuticals

• Business & Finance

• Logistics & Distribution

• Service Industries

• Caring Services

• Leadership & Management

WE WERE RATED OUTSTANDING for Apprenticeships by Ofsted in our June 2017 inspection

CHARNWOOD BUSINESS GUIDE

Our Advertisers:

Please note:

We gratefully acknowledge the support of all the firms whose advertisements appear in these pages. Without their help we would not be able to produce this guide. As a reciprocal gesture we have pleasure in drawing the attention of our readers to their announcements, but wish to make it clear that Charnwood Borough Council can accept no responsibility for their products or services advertised.

The Almac Group is an established, privately-owned, contract development and manufacturing organisation employing over 5,000 individuals worldwide. We provide an extensive range of integrated services across the drug development lifecycle to the global pharmaceutical and biotech sectors.

In 2015, Almac acquired a major proportion of the 70-acre world-class Charnwood campus and, since then, has invested significantly both in building enhancements and the installation of cutting-edge processing and analytical technology.

Over this time, we have created over 100 new jobs and, due to ongoing expansion to address client demand, we are continuing to recruit individuals in areas including manufacturing, laboratory operations, logistics, quality, engineering and software development.

Join us to help realise our vision and together we can improve patients’ lives around the world.

Find out more by visiting almacgroup.com

So much more than a school, The Loughborough Schools Foundation is a unique educational family blessed with a beautiful location, exceptional facilities and outstanding teaching.

Four top performing independent Schools and a thriving Nursery welcome children from infants as young as six weeks to confident, courteous and capable young people celebrating exam success at eighteen.

In between, each pupil is encour aged to become the very best version of themselves they can be, suppor ted by a caring communit y, a rich extracurricular programme, superb spor ts facilities, a Music department with ‘All-Steinway School’ status, dedicated STEM resources and an extensive transpor t network.

Visit us online, request a prospectus or try a taster day and experience all that The Loughborough

LEARN MORE HERE: www.lsf.org

OR ARRANGE TO VISIT US SOON: 01509 283700

A wonderful education is a foundation for life. This is that Foundation.

INTRODUCTION

The creation of a strong and lasting economy, with new and growing businesses, new homes and improved infrastructure, is one of Charnwood Borough Council’s top priorities.

Charnwood is in the very centre of the country and highly accessible due to being connected by mainline railway, motorway and trunk roads. The borough is next door to East Midlands Airport and just a short drive from Birmingham International Airport too. In just over one hour you can be in London by train, or within a 45-minute drive you can reach a million potential employees. The catchment area for customers and suppliers is vast. Nestled between the cities of Leicester, Nottingham and Derby, Charnwood provides the ideal combination of economic vibrancy and a good quality of life which very few places can match.

Charnwood is a prime location for successful business. A tradition of innovative industrial, commercial and research activities stand us in great stead for the future – and we want your business success to be part of our journey to reach new levels of innovation in industry and commerce.

The Council and its partners are keen to attract new investment and to support existing or new businesses to grow. It is why we are ensuring that new sites come forward for commercial development and

that regeneration schemes provide new business opportunities, creating an exciting portfolio of sites and premises for businesses of many sizes across many sectors. Two of our major sites became part of the Loughborough and Leicester Science and Innovation Enterprise Zone in 2017 and the Midlands Engine strategy will provide for investment in roads infrastructure.

The towns and villages of Charnwood offer plenty of opportunity for business activity and in recent years this part of Leicestershire has seen significant investment from large companies such as Access Group, Rolls Royce, 3M, Leicester City Football Club and a plethora of small businesses. The Council provides many services to businesses of all sizes and we hope that this guide will give you an overview of what we do and how we can help.

bFor further information please visit our websites www.charnwood.gov.uk and www.incharnwood.com. For business updates follow @inCharnwood on Twitter and make sure you visit the Its Local Charnwood online business directory service at www.itslocalcharnwood.co.uk

REGENERATION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN CHARNWOOD

Investing in Charnwood

The Regeneration and Economic Development Team at Charnwood Borough Council and its partners offer tailor-made support to businesses relocating to or growing in Charnwood. Our free, confidential support services range from provision of general information and advice about doing business here to bespoke, specialised responses to complex requirements.

Using the Council’s own local expertise and drawing from a network of in-depth knowledge from business service providers and support agencies, the Regeneration and Economic Development Team can deliver a range of solutions to assist with the relocation or growth of your business.

Services provided include:

• Provision of local information to help inform your strategic planning and decision-making

• Working with property agents and other partners to help find you suitable sites or premises

• Arranging fact-finding trips, including tours of premises and sites with agents where appropriate

• Local introductions to assist your business integrate well in Charnwood and establish business networks

• Information about how you and your workforce can benefit from working and living in an area, with great housing, education and leisure time opportunities

• Access to senior officials to discuss how planning, rates and other regulatory matters will be dealt with in a businessfriendly manner

• Direct links in to Loughborough University for assistance with graduate recruitment, knowledge transfer, research and development projects

• Working with partners to help you find the skills for the workforce that your business needs.

As a business looking to invest in Charnwood, we will commit to helping you as best as we can.

Growing the local economy

We work with a variety of partner organisations and the private sector to encourage economic growth. This takes many forms and includes regeneration initiatives, business support programmes and business events.

We oversee the implementation of the Charnwood Economic Development Strategy, the Loughborough Town Centre Masterplan and work closely with town teams in Shepshed and Loughborough to help deliver on objectives for our main town centres. Loughborough town centre has a Business Improvement District (called Love Loughborough) which we work closely with and they are pleased to support businesses operating in the town centre. For more information see www.loveloughborough.co.uk

Whether it is a small project that helps ‘make the difference’ or a major new infrastructure scheme, the team will work in partnership where we can to grow our already successful local economy and stimulate further business and jobs growth.

For more information about Charnwood, visit our inCharnwood website: www. incharnwood.com

The information on our inCharnwood website is specifically targeted towards Charnwood businesses and potential investors. If you would like to find out more about doing business in Charnwood, please contact us using the details below.

Email incharnwood@charnwood.gov.uk

Telephone 01509 634727 / 534

Website: www.inCharnwood.com

bPlease get in touch with us – we’d love to hear from you.

COUNCIL BUSINESS PREMISES

Charnwood Borough Council has a portfolio of commercial premises which help businesses to start and grow. They range from flexible use starter spaces through to industrial units.

• Ark Business Centre Managed Office Space, Loughborough

The Ark Business Centre is a complex of 17 managed units providing office accommodation for existing, start-up and businesses relocating to the area. Units ranging in size from14.9m2 to 28.7m2

• Oak Business Centre, Sileby

The Oak Business Centre is a complex of 26 managed units providing workshop and office accommodation for existing, startup and relocating businesses to the area. Ranging in size from 31m2 to 110m2

• Loughborough Town Hall

Situated in the heart of Charnwood, Loughborough Town Hall is a professional conferencing and events venue, catering to a large range of clients with flexible, attentive and accessible event solutions. With high-tech facilities ranging from our 522 seat theatre auditorium, elegant Ballroom and Sock Gallery to smaller meeting rooms, Loughborough Town Hall provides everything you need for the perfect event under one roof.

• Woodgate Chambers, Loughborough Town Centre

Woodgate Chambers is situated in Loughborough town centre and provides 6 small business units. Ranging in size from 6.32m2 to 20.53m2

• Meadow Lane Industrial Estate, Loughborough

Meadow Lane Industrial Estate has 21 small self-contained industrial units ranging from 46.5m2 to 173m2 also two secure compounds 64m2 and 120m2

• Chainbridge Open Space Compounds, Loughborough

These are secured but open storage compounds ranging in size from 598m2 to 1,428m2

• Messenger Close Open Space Compounds, Loughborough

These are secured but open storage compounds ranging in size from 285m2 to 3,000m2 with shared access of 299m2

• Conference Room Facilities are available at Loughborough Town Hall (contact 01509 634775 or visit www.lth.hire@charnwood. gov.uk , Woodgate Chambers (contact admin@glebehouseproject.org.uk), The Ark Business Centre (contact ark@charnwood. gov.uk) and The Oak Business Centre (contact ark@charnwood.gov.uk).

To make an enquiry about our property, please contact our Property Services Team on 01509 643400 or 01509 813955, email ark@charnwood.gov.uk or use the Contact form on the www.incharnwood.com website.

The Borough Council owns a variety of units suitable for all types of businesses. We also have conference room facilities at four of our business premises which can be booked at competitive rates.

SUPPORT AND HELP FOR BUSINESS COMPLIANCE

There are lots of rules and regulations out there for businesses to follow. In Charnwood, Regulatory Services are part of the Better Business For All initiative, which aims to engage with business and provide expert help and advice in various areas. These include help on food safety, health and safety, licensing and environmental protection.

Some very small businesses find it difficult to know where to go to get the right advice and there are benefits to coming direct to the regulators who are out there every day providing advice and education, but also protecting the public.

With lots of regulations, sometimes it is difficult to be aware of those that affect your business activities and whether you are doing the right thing. Unfortunately, some businesses are found to be noncompliant and we have to take formal action to resolve any issues. We are also out there to provide a level playing field for businesses ensuring they are all meeting a similar standard and enforcing against rogue traders.

We have helped lots of businesses over the years and have found that this also improves the profitability of a business as they can save money from advice on things like design and guidance, to other services. In particular, food businesses can benefit from a high food hygiene rating which has been shown to attract more customers.

Recently, Environmental Health Officers were able to help Good Food Enterprises Ltd, a small bakery business. They stated “Our officer at Charnwood Borough Council had excellent background knowledge and her support and many helpful real life ideas assisted us to develop our plans. We feel that we could always trust her sensible realistic advice in the future for any forthcoming developments we may need advice on.”

When a business gets good advice from the start they are able to grow and being compliant with regulations helps them know that they are operating according to the law and provides some self-assurance.

Getting compliance right first time aids success for your business, protection for your customers and enhances Leicester and Leicestershire’s reputation as a good place to do business.

We want to help more businesses whether they are starting up or deciding to grow, and can provide some free advice. Should you require any help and advice on topics of food safety, health and safety, environmental protection or licensing then contact our services directly by phone 01509 634656 or via email env.health@charnwood.gov.uk or visit https://www.charnwood.gov.uk/pages/ regulatory_service

PLANNING SERVICE

The team plays a critical role in planning and preparing for future growth by identifying what land and infrastructure is needed to meet the needs of our communities, businesses and investors.

The Local Plan Core Strategy sets out a vision and strategy for Charnwood to be one of the most desirable places to live, work and visit in the East Midlands by 2028. It identifies the places in the Borough where new development will be acceptable and is the basis against which decisions are, or are not, made to grant planning permission. More details regarding the Core Strategy and future plans are available on our website (Local Plan - https://www.charnwood.gov.uk/ pages/local_plan and future plans - https:// www.charnwood.gov.uk/pages/local_plan_ review).

Our team of professional and experienced officers can assist developers with every

aspect of the planning process and are committed to working with applicants, developers and other stakeholders to promote growth within Charnwood and secure a high standard of design across the Borough. Accordingly, we are able to provide the highest standard of service to those preparing planning applications through our pre-application advice service, as well as through the formal stages of a planning application and the post application process.

The Planning Service has a key role in securing the Council’s ambitions for growth through the delivery of high quality homes, jobs and the necessary infrastructure to meet the needs of our communities, whilst protecting our heritage and countryside.

The Local Plan Core Strategy sets out a vision for Charnwood to be one of the most desirable places to live, work and visit in the East Midlands. The Plan highlights the role Loughborough plays in the region’s knowledgebased economy.

The Local Planning Authority currently processes in excess of 95% of the planning applications it receives under delegated powers, which enables the majority of decisions to be made in the timeliest manner. Only about 5% of applications are determined by the Plans Committee, which meets every four weeks. These tend to be the most significant and complex applications.

The pre-application advice service is available to all customers interested in submitting a planning application. Engagement at this early stage in the planning process has been shown to significantly improve the quality of developments and speed up the formal planning process. The team can also introduce you to other services within the Council where they are relevant to your proposal. Further information regarding our pre-application advice service is available on our website https://www.charnwood.gov.uk/ pre_application_planning_advice.

Another role of our Planning Service is to investigate and resolve breaches in planning appropriately, promptly and efficiently. Whilst there is a range of actions available to the Council to resolve breaches in planning legislation, where possible we aim

to work proactively with our customers to resolve issues.

If you would like any advice or information regarding the planning service at Charnwood or have a development in mind, please do not hesitate to contact the Planning Service where the team would be happy to assist.

bPlanning and Regeneration, Charnwood Borough Council, Southfields, Southfields Road, Loughborough LE11 2TN

For further details, please visit our website: www.charnwood.gov.uk/contacts/planning_services

Email: localplans@charnwood.gov.uk ; development. control@charnwood.gov.uk ; or Tel: 01509 634570

BUILDING CONTROL

Why Use Charnwood Borough Council Building Control

As a local authority we are part of the large Local Authority Building Control organisation which represents Local Authority Building Control throughout England and Wales.

The Building Regulation process is there to ensure your new property is safe, well built and energy efficient, in line with the standards set by the Building Regulations. There are two routes through the process, the Building Notice for small domestic works from extensions to minor alterations, or a Full Plans Application for both domestic and commercial works.

Our highly trained and experienced team of surveyors who are qualified and experienced in building control and can assist developers, designers and building owners to deliver your building project , ensuring compliance with the current building regulations on any scheme, from domestic extensions and one-off bespoke homes, to large commercial office developments and infrastructure projects.

Our team of surveyors are able to provide a cost effective project support from the pre-application advice stage through to completion. It is our aim to take all reasonable steps to give you the best advice

and support through the building regulation process and to ensure the building work complies with Building Regulations.

Once your building work has started, our surveyor will visit site on a regular basis, to help ensure the building work and materials used, meet the expected quality standards and also help with any technical queries during the construction process. We will work with your builder to help achieve their best standard of build.

If you have a project in mind or you require any information about the building control process, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Please feel free to contact us at:

Building Control, Charnwood Borough Council, Southfields, Southfield Road, Loughborough LE11 2TN

Building.control@charnwood.gov.uk

Tel: 01509 634754

https://www.charnwood.gov.uk/contacts/ building_control

We will:

• Advise you on how the Building Regulations apply to your project

• Check your plans

• Issue a plans approval Notice where applicable

• Inspect the work as it progresses

• Issue a Completion certificate when the work is complete and meets the requirement of the Building Regulations.

We can offer:

• Free pre-application advice

• Advice on structure and fire safety

• Fast efficient service - our local surveyors can provide same day inspections

• Local site knowledge - e.g. ground conditions, drainage and existing structures

• Energy assessments

• Ongoing advice and support

• Our service is charged at cost i.e. non-profit making

• Local Authority Building Control are the only body that can enforce the Building Regulations

THE ECONOMY IN CHARNWOOD

Charnwood has a well-balanced economy and a strong business base.

There are over 6,800 VAT registered businesses active across a wide range of sectors, with key concentrations in Loughborough, Thurmaston, Syston and Shepshed. Particular sector strengths in Charnwood are in manufacturing; knowledge-based technology, science and commerce; information and communications technologies and services.

The resident population in Charnwood is well-qualified with large numbers of professionals and managers compared to many other areas. NVQ Level 2 and Level 4 achievement in recent years has been higher in Charnwood than in many other parts of Leicester and Leicestershire.

Labour costs in Charnwood are competitive and are lower than the UK average. The sectors that sustain the highest levels of employment are advanced manufacturing and engineering, professional and financial services, and sports, health and well-being.

A spirit of enterprise exists across Charnwood. Figures compiled by the LLEP in 2016 show that Charnwood had more business births than the average levels for both Leicestershire and England. In 2017, the three year business survival rates in Charnwood were significantly higher than the average across Leicester and Leicestershire and England as a whole.

*Information and graphics courtesy of the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership.

YOUR LOCAL COMMERCIAL WASTE SERVICE

Our officers will be happy to meet and have an informal chat with you to understand and provide solutions on how we can best meet your business’ needs for refuse waste management. The quotation process is quick and straightforward and is built to accommodate the needs of the individual business.

In order to provide a tailored service, we offer a variety of options in terms of receptacles, (sizes include 240/660/1100 litre bins), and collection frequencies to suit your needs. We also offer different payment options for you to choose.

Our quotes do not have any hidden costs. We take responsibility for arranging all the required documentation including the contract agreement, duty of care notice and access agreement without any additional charges. The service is compliant with all legal and environmental requirements.

Collections are operated by the Council’s long-term partner Serco that is also responsible for the household collections. This means that our operators are very familiar with the local environment and have a proven track of high efficiency and customer satisfaction.

If you are looking for an efficient service from an award-winning customer service provider, then please get in touch. What we offer is a reliable and simple to set up one-stop solution for your business’ refuse waste, and what we ask for is an opportunity to prove it.

LOUGHBOROUGH MARKETS

Loughborough’s historic market is rich in character, atmosphere and colour. It town’s heritage since 1221 and will soon be celebrating its 800-year anniversary!

There are also regular street food traders selling delicious food that you can eat on the go.

On Fridays we hold a Vintage Market with around 40 stalls selling collectable, second hand, antique and memorabilia items. We also hold a monthly Farmers’ Market.

In 2017, Loughborough retail market won the prestigious NABMA Best Large Outdoor Market of the Year award. It was recognised for the support it gives to traders and its work with Loughborough University.

At the heart of the community and with the highest footfall days of the week, our markets are pivotal to the success of the town centre and help to keep our High Street vibrant. Over the last year we have invested in new infrastructure and branding and we regularly carry out marketing and promotional activity to ensure the markets continue to entice shoppers from across the region.

On Thursdays and Saturdays there is our regular Retail Market, with around 140 market stalls - selling everything from locally sourced fresh produce to gifts and clothing.

We have a mix of traders that have operated on the markets for many years, but we also welcome new entrepreneurial traders looking to either test market their products or set up a new business - as well as offering a new channel to market for already established businesses and shops. With competitive rents and low overheads, entry barriers are minimal on marketsideal for business start-ups.

To help new traders, we offer our Try-aTrade scheme. This scheme is designed

especially for new business start-ups and offers the first day of trading for free, and then 12 consecutive trading days at a 50% discount. This is an ideal option for people to get a feel for the market and decide whether it is suitable for them, without any major commitment.

Bringing on new traders is a top priority for us to ensure the future health and vitality of Loughborough Markets, and will help the markets stay at the heart of local communities and the high street well into the future.

bIf you are interested in trading on Loughborough Markets, please email markets@charnwood.gov.uk or visit www.charnwood.gov.uk/markets

BUSINESS GATEWAY GROWTH HUB

The Business Gateway is part of the national Growth Hub network. We provide tailored, commercially focused and joined-up advice that’s free, impartial and delivered with one goal in mind: increasing your revenue. You can access expert advice, support programmes, finance and free workshops to help grow your business.

Get in touch today to discover the support available to grow your business: Call 0116 366 8487 or email your enquiry to growthhub@bizgateway.org.uk Follow us on Twitter

@bizgateway or LinkedIn: business gateway growth hub

Sign up for the latest support programmes, news updates, and workshops: www.bizgateway.org.uk/subscribe

The business support landscape can be confusing as programmes and offers change regularly. We simplify the process, signposting the most appropriate support for your business, saving you time. Our expert advisers open the doors to industry contacts and will open your eyes to the support programmes available.

Although Growth Hubs are part of a national network, they have a local focus and are uniquely positioned to understand the environment your business operates in. Working with a number of local partners, including universities, sector-specific programmes and private organisations, means you can access tailored support that is best for you and your business’s specific needs.

Our Services:

• 1:1 business adviser meetings

• Free workshops and events

• Specialist support for high growth

• Investor readiness programme

• Business growth grants from £2,000 to £25,000*

*Subject to eligibility criteria

Here’s what some of our business success stories had to say about the Business Gateway Growth Hub:

“Sometimes when you’re working inside your business it’s difficult to see where you’re going or know who the right people are to contact. Our Business Gateway adviser has opened doors for us that we didn’t think were possible.”

Ash Shah - World Products Ltd

“We were put in touch with a Business Gateway adviser who came to our office and went through different types of available funding. We successfully applied for a grant that went towards the costs of our marketing activities. We’re now perceived differently in the market place as a professional business moving forwards.”

Melanie Mee – Pyrotect Ltd

“The Business Gateway offered me a free finance course that has helped me financially structure my business in a better way. Overall the support I’ve received has made me more confident, personally more marketable, and it’s really helped my business grow.”

Learie Gonsavles – One Building Solutions Ltd

Ideally situated in the borough of Charnwood and easily commutable from London and major cities in the Midlands, Loughborough Town Hall features six versatile spaces to provide the perfect backdrop for your corporate event.

With a maximum delegate capacity of up to 520 people and with spaces ranging from our professional theatre auditorium, elegant Victoria Room and various breakout rooms, let us take the stress out of your event and help you make a lasting impression on your clients. Our rooms are fitted with top of the range AV equipment, with in-house catering solutions available.

Perfect for hosting conferences, exhibitions, meetings, training courses, awards ceremonies, product launches and filming days, let our team of experienced event professionals help in making your event a standout success.

Loughborough Town Hall, Market Place, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3EB LTH.hire@charnwood.gov.uk 01509 634775

We deliver s afe, reliable, award-winning gas servicing, maintenance & inst allation services to 50 clients across the UK. With over 40 years of successful delivery experience in the social housing & commercial markets, we are experts in providing planned & responsive maintenance, capit al programmes & wider support services to 160,000 homes & businesses.

www.suregroup.co.uk

An emerging leader in advanced skin drug delivery formulations and device technologies, Nemaura Provides an end-to-end solution for complex drugs, where the requirement is transdermal or injectable delivery.

Energy saving

Switching off non-essential equipment in an office overnight saves enough energy to run a small car for 100 miles.

Saving energy saves you money, protects your reputation and helps combat climate change.

Your organisation could save up to 10% through housekeeping actions which cost little or nothing.

Source: www.carbontrust.co.uk

With decades of experience in print, internet, data and adver tising ser vices, we are able to deliver ex ceptional standards of design technology, projec t management and customer ser vice.

We o er a range of exciting, fully-funded publishing and mark eting services to major public and private organisations throughout the UK – primarily government bodies, local authorities, NHS Trusts and trade associations.

Our comprehensive ser vice encompasses all elements of printed and elec tronic publishing. We provide a wide range of ser vices including design and print, data management, adver tising sales, mark et research, website design and produc tion, software development and sponsorship b w m

IT’S LOC AL CHARNWOOD ONLINE BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Charnwood Council is proud to be par t of launching an exciting new ser vice for businesses in Charnwood, connecting local businesses with local customers, free of charge and keeping trade inside the local economy.

/charnwoodbc

@Cha

rnwoodBC

www.charn

‘It ’s Local’ is an online business director y, built for today’s mobile gener ation, that accompanies this Char nwood Business Guide

At www.itslocalcharnwood.co.uk you can find business ser vices by keyword or company name .

It is fully integr ated with Google maps, directions and Streetview and includes direct links to businesses’ websites and social media including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ and YouTube.

‘It’s Local’ is a business director y for businesses and people who live in, work in and visit Char nwood

There’s no download or install to worr y about The ser vice is dynamic , sending device-appropriate pages to mobiles, tablets, laptops, desktops and Smar t TVs

Market your business for FREE!

Search for local companies

Shop Local and suppor t the Charnwood economy!

an affordable and accessible reality throughout the world”