Charnwood Business Guide 2024

BUSINESS GUIDE

Charnwood

Persimmon Homes at Garendon Park

Charnwood BUSINESS GUIDE

Published by: My Business Client Ltd

Martinique House,Hampshire Road, Bordon, Hampshire GU35 0HJ

Tel: 01420 477080

Email: sales@mybusinessclient.com Web: www.mybusinessclient.com

Please note:

This publication is wholly or partially funded by the advertisers herein and the publisher. It is provided at no charge to the Council.

Our Advertisers:

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 Council can accept no responsibility for their products or services advertised.

All adverts correct at time they were signed off.

LOCAL CHARNWOOD

If you are a business located in Charnwood and would like to be included in the online directory, please visit www.itslocalcharnwood.co.uk and click on the ‘Add Company’ link. It’s free to be included.

• It’s a web-app for all devices

• Find business services by keyword or company name

• Map, directions and nearby Streetview

• Direct links to businesses’ social media networks and websites

• FREE for Charnwood businesses to be listed

• No download or install to worry about

• Register your business for FREE at www.itslocalcharnwood.co.uk

Notes:

‘itslocalcharnwood’ is compatible with most web browsers, including Google Chrome, Firefox and Microsoft Internet Explorer (version 9 and above).

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.

For 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 to 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 business-friendly 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 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.

Please get in touch with us –we’d love to hear from you. Email incharnwood@charnwood. gov.uk Website: www.inCharnwood.com

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, startup 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, start-up 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 businessunits@charnwood. gov.uk or use the Contact form on the www.incharnwood.com website.

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 non-compliant 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.

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 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 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. A new Local Plan which will replace the Local

Plan Core Strategy once adopted identifies growth up until 2037. The emerging Local Plan is at an advanced stage of the plan making process and is expected to be adopted by the Council in late 2024. More details regarding the Core Strategy and the emerging Local Plan are available on our website.

https://www.charnwood.gov.uk/ pages/local_plan

https://www.charnwood.gov. uk/pages/charnwood_local_ plan_2021_37

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 Local Planning Authority currently processes in excess of 97% of the planning applications it receives under delegated powers, which enables the majority of decisions to be made in the timeliest manner. Only about 3% of applications are determined by the Plans Committee, which normally meets once a month. These tend to be the more complex and controversial applications.

The pre-application advice service is available to all customers interested in submitting a planning application. This enables us to highlight any potential issues that may arise and encourage good quality applications that achieve the highest standards. This is helpful as it can often speed up decision times for formal planning applications. Please note that preapplication advice is only informal opinion and does not constate a formal or guaranteed outcome, nor prejudice the formal consideration of any application by the Council against local and national planning policies and current guidance at the time a formal application is received, or any decision that may be made by the Councils Plans Committee. Please see our website for more information: https://www.charnwood.gov.uk/ pages/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.

Planning and Growth, 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

Energy saving

A chiller door left open for 30 minutes a day wastes enough energy in a year to power a lighthouse for nearly 4 days.

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

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 634924 / 634757

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, life science and commerce; information and communications technologies and services.

A spirit of enterprise exists across Charnwood. Figures compiled by the LLEP in 2022 shows that Charnwood had more business incorporations than closures, when comparing figures against other areas there has consistently been rises in the numbers of closures however this has not been the case in Charnwood.

Data relating to employment by occupation taken from the Office for National Statistics Annual Population Survey estimates, when comparing the share of occupations with national figures, the Charnwood district has on average more Process, Plant and Machine Operatives, Managers, Directors and Senior Officials, Caring, Leisure and Other, service Occupations and Administrative and Secretarial Occupations.

When comparing local and national claimant rates throughout the period 2016 to June 2022, Charnwood’s claimant rate has been consistently below Englands. At a national level over the last year unemployment has fallen from 4.9% to 4.6%. Over the last reporting quarter the rate has fallen from 5%. Charnwoods unemployment rate is 1 percentage point lower than the national rate. The unemployment rate in Charnwood has traditionally been below the national average. At times the difference has narrowed.

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 3 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.

YOUR LOCAL COMMERCIAL WASTE SERVICE

Charnwood Borough Council is now offering a Commercial Recycling and Refuse Waste Collection 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 waste management. The quotation process is quick and straight-forward and is built to accommodate the needs of the individual business.

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’ waste, and what we ask for is an opportunity to prove it.

Commercial Waste Service

LOUGHBOROUGH MARKETS

With a vibrant atmosphere and a wide variety of stalls, Loughborough’s historic market has been part of the town’s rich heritage since 1221.

Loughborough’s Retail Market runs every Thursday and Saturday and has previously won the prestigious NABMA Best Large Outdoor Market of the Year award, recognising the support it provides to traders as well as the collaboration with Loughborough University.

At the heart of the community, and encouraging the highest footfall days of the week, our markets are pivotal to the success of the Town Centre and help maintain a bustling High Street experience. Starting in 2024, we will be investing in a series of improvements to the infrastructure and branding which, along with regular marketing and promotional activities, will ensure the markets continue to entice shoppers from across the region.

Our twice weekly Retail Market boasts around 114 stalls selling top quality produce and merchandise, from fresh meat, fish, fruit and veg, to flowers, clothing, and gifts, with many being locally sourced. There are also regular street traders selling delicious food you can eat on the go.

On Fridays we hold a Vintage Market with around 48 stalls selling collectable, second hand, antique, and memorabilia items. We also host a small but popular Farmers’ and Craft Market on the second Wednesday of the month.

On the first Sunday of every month, between the months of April and September, we welcome the successful Gardeners’ Fair to the

Town Centre, where a variety of plants and crafts are available, along with the expert knowledge of the Growers, Makers & Merchants.

There are other specialist markets running at various times throughout the year.

With competitive rents and low overheads, entry barriers are minimal on markets – providing an ideal opportunity for new traders to set up. In addition, we offer our Try-a-Trade scheme, which is designed especially for new business start-ups and offers the first day of trading for free, followed by 12 consecutive trading days at a 50% discount. This is an ideal opportunity for someone to get a feel for the market and decide whether it is suitable for them, without any longterm commitment.

Offering opportunities, and supporting new and established traders, is our top priority as we recognise their value and importance in keeping our muchloved markets at the heart of local communities well into the future.

If you are interested in trading opportunities at any of Loughborough’s 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 and offers information across a wide range of topics via the Business Gateway website, topics including:

• Business start-up training and mentoring

• Business growth and expansion plans, recruitment and investing

• Access to finance, including local and national grants and loans programmes

• Premises and search for new commercial property

• Recruitment and workforce skills/ training

• Regulation and compliance

This includes business support that is available from local and national partners, public and private organisations across a wide range of industries and sectors.

The support available on the Business Gateway is free to access and can be visited by clicking here: https://bizgateway.org.uk

I nnovative lab and office space availabl e in a thriving lif e sciences park

•Various sized units, flexible leases

•E nablin g research ,d evelopment or commercia l manufacturin g

•M 1 corridor location of fe ring excellent connectivit y within the UK, EU and RO W

• Businesssupport, Conference and Expo programmes

250,000 sqft of worldclass lab and office space fo rr ent and development lan d available no w charnwoodcampus.com

Charnwood Campus Science Innovation and Technology Park - perfectly located for growing life sciences business.

The Charnwood life sciences ecosystem is a dynamic mix of large, medium and small MedTech, BioTech, Digital Health, and Biopharma companies, including research, development and manufacturing organisations like Almac Group, Aspire Pharma (former Morningside Pharmaceuticals), Kindeva Drug Delivery, 3M Healthcare, Datalink, Access Group (Health and Social Care Sector), Weiss Technik UK, Nemaura, Charnwood Discovery, Thermo Fisher, Biostatus Ltd amongs t others.

At the centre of the cluster is the Charnwood Campus Science, Innovation Technology Park, the only science park in Leicestershire dedicated to life sciences business, and a beacon within the LLEP’s economic growth strategy 2021-2030. A dynamic and rapidly growing science park situated on the former Astra Zeneca site in Loughborough, Charnwood Campus is a meaningful life sciences asset that supports the growth of the sector in the region, helping transition Leicestershire into knowledge economy.

The Charnwood Campus Science, Innovation Technology Park also boasts the Enterprise Zone designation that helps accelerate economic growth of the region making Loughborough and surrounding villages not only a fantastic place to live and raise a family but also an attractive destination for young professionals, entrepreneurs, scientists that make up an ambitious and vibrant business community of Loughborough and Charnwood Borough.

Let’s look at the figures:

Life Sciences is one of the UK’s most successful sectors, worth over £94 billion to the UK economy in 2021, and employs over 280,000 people1 The Midlands is a key part of the UK’s thriving business ecosystem for life sciences companies recognised as a growing Super Cluster with world-leading economic strengths and innovation assets2. It contributes £20.5bn each year to the region's economy, employs over 30,000 people in 1,294 companies.

Life sciences companies in the Midlands are exceptionally well placed to interact with innovation assets, including seven leading Medical Schools, the 2nd largest clinical trials cluster in Europe and an ethnically diverse population of over 10 million citizens.

The region offers robust suppor t infrastructure, including established organisations such as Medilink Midlands and Health Innovation East Midlands (HIEM), and the UK’s first Life Science Opportunity Zone which is based in Charnwood – Charnwood Campus Science, Innovation and Technology Park

Within Leicester and Leicestershire, the sector produces £900m GVA each year, accounts for 14,200 jobs, consists of over 135 companies3, 38% of which, are in Charnwood4 The region is well recognised for the success of its medical technologies cluster and the associated benefits that clustering bring, such as accelerated innovation, knowledge exchange, talent pool, supply chain and company growth5 The region has also been recognised as a High Potential Opportunity (HPO) zone for rehabilitation and is promoted as the UK inward investment landing site for companies working in this field6. Supported by an engaged and proactive Charnwood Borough Council, Charnwood Campus Science, Innovation and Technology Park takes a lead in driving the life sciences sector, encouraging innovation and accelerating commercialisation of novel therapeutics to advance human health and bringing inclusive growth into the region. The clinical and academic innovation assets in the region are truly exceptional, with the region being home to three universities, University of Leicester, Loughborough University and De Montfort University, the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine, the National Rehabilitation Centre and Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre and extensive National Institute of Health and Care Infrastructure (NIHR)7 The NIHR infrastructure includes the only national Patient Recruitment Centre in the Midlands, specifically focused on setting up and delivering late phase commercial clinical trials in the NHS at pace and scale, the Leicester Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre, and the Leicester Biomedical Research Centre8

From creating a clear vision to securing the first tenant, from the first ministerial visit to close collabo ration with the government during the pandemic, from one occupier to a mixture of businessesCharnwood Campus has been transforming this 70 acre site at an impressive rate creating over 700 science jobs on the site and 3,500 in the region. Building on the pharmaceutical legacy of Loughborough that dates back to the 19th century – from Fisons Pharmaceuticals in 1968, Astra AB in 1995, Astra Zeneca in 1999, to Charnwood Campus Science Innovation and Technology Park in 2014, the site boasts a history of many blockbuster drugs that have benefited millions of patients all over the world

This mature collaborative life sciences ecosystem had been helping business to star t, grow and thrive for many years and has a strong history of successful startups. More recently the Borough has been benefiting from the Charnwood Campus Business Support Programme. This innovative support package ensures business can access life sciences sector specific support targeted to ease roadblocks and pinch points developed around 4 pillars: Skills, Leadership, NHS and Academia Collaboration and Cluster Support Events, which are increasing opportunities for local companies to become inspired, embrace innovation, and capable of building resilient and scalable businesses. The programme targets pre-start-ups, start-ups and SMEs and also larger organisations to identify and successfully bridge skills, resource, expertise and/or financial gaps.

• Skills - Life Sciences Talent and Skills Institute offerings student placements, apprenticeships and upskilling opportunities

• Leadership - Expert Mentor Networks offering peer learning and mentoring services as well as access to training leadership programmes

References

1 Chancellors reveals life sciences growth

2 Exploring the investment potential of Midlands clusters

• Life Sciences Cluster Support – Events, Conferences and Workshops around starting and growing a successful business, finance, market access, infrastructure and supply chain strengths

• NHS and Academia Collaboration - collaboration between researchers, university led programmes and NHS, innovators and entrepreneurs

The ecosystem on the Campus is tailored to ensure companies can grow in a supportive and collaborative environment. Companies benefit from world leading laboratory and office space, that offers the only dedicated life sciences facility in the Leicestershire, flexible leases, world class neighbours and a vibrant growing life sciences ecosystem. For more information on this world leading facility please visit Charnwoodcampus.com

3 LLEP Life sciences and biotech in Leicester and Leicestershire Sector profile: Life Sciences and Biotech (llep.org.uk)

4 Bioscience and health technology sector statistics 2021 Bioscience and health technology sector statistics 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

5 Innovation Caucus ClusterReport_Final.pdf (innovationcaucus.co.uk)

6 DIT High Potential Opportunity Regional investment projects announced to boost local economies - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

7 Our NIHR infrastructure Our NIHR infrastructure - NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre

8 NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre About Us - NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre

MEDILINK MIDLANDS

Medilink Midlands: supporting and inspiring life sciences in the Midlands

Medilink Midlands is the Midlands’ life sciences industr y association with a vision to stimulate the growth of the region’s life science sector by helping companies establish, develop, and grow.

Its network of more than 5,400 contacts across 2 ,600 organis ations represents all aspects of the sector : from multinationals to high-growth potential start-up companies, as well as the NHS and universities. With offices across the Midlands (including on Charnwood Campus), Medilink Midlands has been providing specialist support to boost the region’s economic output from the life sciences sector since 2004.

The Midlands sits at the ver y heart of the UK’s med tech and life sciences sectors. With around 1, 200 companies in the industr y, the region has the largest number of med tech businesses in the UK and is the second largest

employer, supporting over 32 ,000 highly skilled life science jobs.

As the second largest cluster of medical technology ser vice and supply companies in the countr y, the Midlands is ideally aligned to support the development, manufacture, and implementation of technologies that support innovative approaches in healthcare.

Medilink Midlands understands the importance of working collaboratively to achieve a positive outcome, as its Chief Executive Melanie Davidson explains: “We believe that the life sciences industr y is ‘stronger together ’ and we maintain strong relationships with both business and academia to provide our members with the skills and resources they need in order to thrive. Working with life sciences organis ations within the region, including Charnwood Campus, allows us to deliver

L to R : Andrea Dawson, Chief Financial and Operating Officer, Medilink Midlands / Gosia Khrais, Commercial and Marketing Director, Charnwood Campus Science Innovation and Technology Park / Melanie Davidson, Chief Executive Officer, Medilink Midlands / Dr Lucy Alexander, Head of Business Development and Senior Business Development Manager for the Charnwood Innovation Centre.

further support and advice to businesses throughout the Midlands, boosting the regional economy, and reinforcing the Midlands’ reputation for being a life sciences hotspot .”

Last year, it was revealed that Medilink Midlands delivered £3.5m in grants to East Midlands-based businesses under ERDF-funded programmes over an eight-year period, including two Leicestershire healthcare companies, Blüm and Spirit Health, that have both benefitted from access to grants, specialist support, and networking opportunities facilitated by the organis ation.

In addition, through its involvement in the Charnwood Life Sciences Cluster, Medilink has been able to connect with many businesses in the Leicestershire and Loughborough area and provide them with knowledge, resources, opportunities, and advice through the Charnwood Campus Innovation Surgeries - a collaboration between East Midlands Academic Health Science Network (EM AHSN), Medilink Midlands, Mills & Reeve, and Charnwood Campus

One of these businesses is Enrich My Care, a personal health platform that helps to improve the health and quality of life of children with disabilities. The company received innovation support from Medilink and was this year awarded the Highly Commended Start-up at the Medilink Midlands Business Awards.

Another local award winner is Loughborough-based company Moti Me, which was crowned the winner of the Leicestershire Live 2023 Innovation Award. The company has designed a product for children with disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, that provides them with a physiotherapy aid that is both enjoyable and motivating for them to use.

Through the Innovation Surgeries, Moti Me was introduced to the UKRI Founders Factor y Children's Health Impact Accelerator, funded by Innovate UK in collaboration with the Medical Research Council. Following a competitive pitch process, Moti Me was accepted onto the programme, which involves ten weeks of mentorship, networking, and opportunities

for funding, designed specifically for children’s health start-ups.

Another start-up that has received advice through the Innovation Surgeries on its route to market is The Essential Baby Company, which aims to bring accessibility and inclusivity to antenatal care in the UK

These three organis ations are just some of the many local businesses that Medilink Midlands has been able to support through its connections with the Leicestershire region and Charnwood Campus.

Recognising the importance of showcasing the Midlands’ success stories, Medilink Midlands has worked with Charnwood Campus to host a number of life science-focused events. Last summer, a life sciences industr y day took place on the Campus, which s aw students, STEM teachers, and school staff from across the region attend and learn about career opportunities in the sector, and how STEM careers can be better promoted in the classroom.

Following a year of impactful events, Medilink Midlands and Charnwood Campus are continuing to collaborate in 2024 to deliver support and advice to life science companies within the Midlands. Through our partnership, we endeavour to celebrate and foster the entrepreneurial spirit of Leicestershire that has helped to create 3,700 jobs across the life sciences sector since 2010.

Charnwood Campus Science Innovation and Technology Park , in joint sponsorship with CPW, are also proudly sponsoring the Outstanding Achievement categor y of this year ’s Medilink Midlands Business Awards which will once again showcase the best and brightest life sciences businesses in the region.

Our programme of sector-focused events and success stories from local businesses demonstrate the value of building a collaborative life sciences community. Ser ving as the voice of the industr y, Medilink Midlands is looking forward to providing support and opportunities to more companies across both the East and West Midlands to build on these strong foundations and help the sector to flourish.

Charnwood Council Official Business Guide

The Almac Group is an established, privately-owned, contract development and manufacturing organisation employing over 6,600 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 180 new jobs and, due to ongoing expansion to address client demand, we are continuing to recruit individuals in areas including manufacturing, laboratory operation, 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

COMBINE

FORCES FORCES

YOUR THERAPY IS A FORCEFOR GOOD. OURE XPERTISE BRINGS IT INTO THE WORLD.

Kindeva Drug Delivery is a global contract development manufacturing organisation focused on drug -d evic e comb inatio np ro du cts. We develop an dm anuf ac ture produc ts for our pharmaceutic al an db iotech clients across a broadr ange of drug -d eliver y format s including:

Pulmonar y & Nasal Delive ry

Inje ct able Deli ve ry

Tr ansderma l Deli ve ry

product fill -f inish, cont ainer closure system manufacturing, and drug -devic e productassembly.

With a constant eye on grow th and expansio n, Kindeva se rves our global client base from nine manufacturing, re se arc h, anddevelopment faciliti es — including one righthere in Loughborough .

Be ing a global top fi ve dr ug -devic e C DMO doesn’ t happ en by chance. We ’reat thetop becauseof talent like you. Andwith our forces combined, we make an unparalleled impac t on patients worldwid e.

That ’s our mission here in Loughborough, and we invite you to connec t with us to explor ethe wide variet y of care er opportunitie s we have available at alll evels of our business —f romsup portive op erations roles to scientific ones

Ba cked by ex tensive te chnologica lc apabilitie s, de ep regulator y kn ow ledge , state-of-the-ar t manufacturing facilities , and more than a centur y of experience, you’ll have ever ything you need to excel as part of our team Combine forc es with Kindeva To gether,we’re a force for good . Visit kindevadd.com and make your next career move with Kindeva