Small business bulletin for Leicestershire, Northants and Rutland

Local News 16 Dec 2024

Local small business news from Jennifer Thomas, your FSB Development Manager. Updates cover Daventry, Hinckley and Bosworth, Leicester, Leicestershire, Loughborough, Melton, Northampton, Northamptonshire, Rutland, Towcester.

In summary

I hope you’ve had a successful festive period, whether that means rest and relaxation, or your busiest time of the year! If you’re feeling like you need a refresher and to get set for the year ahead in business, make sure you book the FSB Bootcamp before tickets sell out (see below).

Looking back on last year’s achievements and events at FSB, we couldn’t have done it without you, our members and supporters. If you’d like to get more involved in the year ahead to help support small businesses in our area, please get in touch.

Featured news and events 

February exhibition bonanza!

The FSB local team will be out meeting you at three exhibitions in February. Catch the teams, as well as hundreds of other businesses from across the region at these free-to-attend expos. We will be aiming to meet FSB members, help you with your benefits and services and find out about you or your business - come and see us!

Bootcamp ramps up!

The full lineup for the FSB Business Bootcamp has now been announced, and due to overwhelming response, we’ve extended the Bootcamp by one extra hour!

The day includes workshops, panel sessions, table discussions and roving mics to ensure that all attendees have a chance to share their own thoughts and expertise and make valuable connections and plans for the year ahead.

Exhibitors from the private sector, business support, finance, sustainability and digital tech will be ready to meet you to give advice, and the day will start with a speed networking event and finish with toasting marshmallows over the fire in the tipi.

The event takes place on 30 January on the Leicestershire/Northamptonshire border; Speed Networking breakfast is almost sold out, and Bootcamp day tickets are over 60% sold, so book your place now to avoid disappointment!

Welcome new volunteers!

We’re pleased to have some new volunteers representing FSB on local taskforces. Alastair McLeod (who will be speaking at the Business Bootcamp about adding value to your business) and Rob Purdie are representing FSB on the Economic Development Strategies for West and North Northamptonshire councils and Sue Tilley will be taking FSB's seat on the Melton Borough Council Local Advisory Group, working on the delivery of funding and business support amongst the local business community.

In other news

FSB and Buzz Networking join forces for Daventry

FSB's local Membership Adviser, Glenn Cameron, runs the monthly Daventry Business Buzz networking, which takes place every third Friday of the month, between 10am and 12pm at the Arc Cinema in Daventry town centre.

A popular event, the room fills up with business owners for relaxed networking and introductions expertly facilitated by Glenn on FSBs behalf.

Glenn can answer questions about your membership, introduce you to new connections and ensure you have a productive morning. No need to be an FSB member, everyone is welcome! Book through the app, all information is on the Buzz website here.

Access GrantFinder for FREE through the BIPC Northamptonshire!

GrantFinder is a business information database that helps you search for financial support tailored to your needs, whether that's grants, loans, or business investment funding. Find out more on the Business & IP Centre, Northamptonshire website.

Personal guarantees investigation: Government intervention now needed

FSB is calling for the Government to step in by legislating to include personal guarantees within the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA’s) Consumer Duty, in order to free up small business owners to invest and grow. The call comes after the FCA published its follow-up work on FSB’s super-complaint on the over-use of personal guarantees when lending to small businesses. FSB said the investigation was severely undermined by the regulator’s decision not to look into loans to limited company directors. National Chair Martin McTague OBE said: “The chilling effect of being asked to risk your family home undermines risk-taking and investment by company directors, while the consequences for a director’s personal finances can be devastating.” More here.

Greater support for small exporters needed new research reveals

A new FSB report, Ready to Dispatch, which launched this week, shows a majority of small exporters are unaware of the full package of government export support on offer to them. This is despite more than a third of small businesses actively pursuing international opportunities. The report sets out FSB’s recommendations and wants to see a commitment to policies that work for small businesses to trade internationally. More information is here.

PM’s plan to raise growth and living standards threatened by Employment Rights Bill, warns FSB

FSB has warned that the Prime Minister’s target to lift growth and living standards – as he set out in his ‘plan for change’– is at risk from the Government’s own Employment Rights Bill. Keir Starmer said the best way to achieve this target was job-creation and “a thriving business environment.” But FSB said this would be jeopardised by some of the proposed changes to employment law, which would increase the cost and risk of employing people. FSB Policy Chair Tina McKenzie said: “In a mission-driven government, the Prime Minister must show that he can get rid of bad policy which threatens the Government’s own number one growth objective”. More here.

Still in the news 

How easy is it to do business with your local council?

Procurement, winning contracts and payment terms can be huge opportunity and a major frustration for small businesses. While our lobbying covers both private and public sector firms, public sector has its own set of regulations to try to encourage SMEs in the supply chain. Do you know what opportunities your local council offers and how easy are they for SMEs to win contracts? FSB has an extensive procurement guide for all local authorities, to help them consider how contracts can be delivered by local, small businesses. For example, West Northamptonshire Council include opportunities on their monthly newsletter and a link to their online portal. If you’d be interested in getting involved locally as an FSB representative making procurement opportunities more accessible for local SMEs, please get in touch.

FSB Unmissable Business growth events

The FSB East Midlands business events programme features networking, expos and conferences to inform and create business opportunities for small businesses across the area. Here are a few upcoming opportunities in our local three-county area:

For the latest FSB online and in person events across the UK, use the filters on FSB's events calendar or your FSB app.

 

More news and activity near you 

Get in touch

Your FSB Development Manager for Leicsestershire, Northhamptonshire & Rutland is Jennifer Thomas. If you'd like more information about the topics above, or if you have news about this area that you'd like to share, please get in touch. 

 

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