1. Leicestershire
a place with
no boundaries

2. leicestershire a place with big ideas. a place
where businesses thrive. where communities
come together. a place where people want to
live. a place full of creativity. where things
happen. a confident place. a place where it’s
easy to get around. a place that’s vivid and
bustling. that’s serene and relaxing. a place
that’s very well connected. that attracts
investment. a place that’s growing. that’s
worldly-wise. a place for families. a place to
meet new friends. a place without restrictions.
a place that encourages development. that
doesn’t say can’t. or won’t. a place of diversity.
of beauty. a place full of opportunity. a place of
unlimited choice. a place of infinite variety.
a place with no boundaries...

3. Without exception, every high street in Britain
and far beyond has some element designed or
manufactured by a Leicestershire business.
The incredible influence of our creative firms
stems from the huge cluster of design
practitioners here and the natural competition
amongst them to be the very best.
It is this true level of excellence that prompted
Levi Strauss, that most all-American of
brands, to have their flagship San Francisco
store designed and built here before having it
LEICESTERSHIRE’S DISTINCTION AS BRITAIN’S SECOND MOST CREATIVE shipped stateside.
REGIONAL CITY HAS INSPIRED LEICESTER’S NEW CULTURAL QUARTER, Other design-oriented multinationals
delighted to use our best creatives include
DEDICATED EXCLUSIVELY TO THE ARTS – A NEW HUB FROM WHICH OUR Timberland, Givenchy, Sony Playstation and
Pizza Express.
CREATIVE THINKING CAN INFLUENCE THE WORLD. It is no idle boast that it is, as often as not,
Leicestershire that makes Britain’s high
streets better places to be.
in a place with
no boundaries,
creativity flourishes
and new thinking
inspires.

5. in a place with
no boundaries,
your visions,
ambitions
and ideas...

6. ...are encouraged to become reality.

7. HIGHCROSS PHOENIX SQUARE DE MONTFORT
Ideas into reality The programme succeeded in providing better Where creativity resides MAGAzINE GATEWAY
outcomes for all: Where old and new combine
Highcross is the perfect example of forward-thinking Leicester’s Phoenix Square is a major creative
Leicester, transforming the old site, The Shires, • Over 800 clients completed Retail Works or development, located right in the heart of the As a city steeped in history, Leicester is proud of its
into a shopping destination that would breathe new Hospitality Works courses between March 2008 and city’s Cultural Quarter. The result of a partnership heritage. In support of the regeneration of the city
life into the city’s retail core. March 2009. project between Blueprint, Phoenix and Leicester City centre, De Montfort University has invested
• At least 445 registered people achieved employment Council, in collaboration with De Montfort University, £170 million to create a first class teaching and
More than just a shopping centre development,
within the retail sector, or had gained other Phoenix Square has driven the regeneration of the research campus.
the project was a unique collaboration between
employment after completing the Retail Routeway. vibrant St George’s area of the city.
Hammerson, Hermes and the City Council – Developed in partnership with Leicester City
supported by the company set up to drive • At least 600 of the 2000 people who gained Designed by award-winning architects Marsh Council, the campus plans include the restoration of
regeneration in Leicester – to acquire additional land, employment at Highcross were previously Grochowski, Phoenix Square is an outstanding historic landmarks including the Magazine Gateway,
relocate occupiers to other suitable sites, and unemployed or young people Not in Education, example of 21st century sustainable design and a medieval gateway that forms part of Leicester
upgrade the local environment through a programme Employment or Training. leading edge architectural quality. Uniquely blending Castle and dates back to 1410.
of high quality street works. creative spaces, performance facilities, private and
• Jobcentre Plus confirmed over 250 priority group The ambitious project now links the city centre to
public spaces, Phoenix Square is home to a brand
At the heart of the project was an employment employment outcomes. its historic quarter and riverside area, replacing a
new creative community.
programme that would bring about positive change to 1960s development and realigning the inner ring
Leicester’s employment landscape. • At least 40 previously unemployed lone parents With award-winning performing arts centre Curve, road to open up the city centre and university.
gained jobs at Highcross, 20 of which were disabled two dedicated 3D cinemas and 22 creative It’s the perfect example of how modern day thinking
The Leicester ‘Routeway to Work’ programme or claiming Incapacity Benefit. workspaces available for start-up creative can work sympathetically with buildings of regional
For the Highcross development to succeed, a skilled This was a demonstration of Leicester at its best: businesses, Phoenix Square is a cultural and and national significance.
workforce across both construction and retail sectors new jobs, new skills, new workplaces; a partnership creative hub in every sense.
needed to be sourced. Routeway to Work was an of private sector business and public sector agencies The objective with Phoenix Square was to build a
award-winning city partnership of public and private working together to bring new hope to those out new community within the St George’s Cultural
sector organisations, offering services to jobseekers of work. Quarter – a place where people can live, relax,
and employers, including sector-specific training that socialise and work in one of the most interesting
would create a bank of locally-qualified candidates. parts of the city. This stunning development
achieves this objective in good measure.

8. in a place with
no boundaries,
the whole
world feels Our tremendous richness of culture
means that in Leicestershire we’ve
right at home.
got the whole world well covered.
This model for cosmopolitan Britain
has strong ties with both the Indian
subcontinent and China – making
us perfectly equipped for trade
with these two nations as their
own economies continue to show
rapid growth.
Transport routes and communications
between the two areas are, naturally,
long-established and with a dedicated
team serving the Indian and Chinese
markets, there is tremendous scope
for great future trade.
With local branches of most of the
subcontinent’s key banks, individuals
and companies find it easy to do
good business.
WITH OUR ETHNICALLY DIVERSE POPULATION AND WORLDWIDE REPUTATION Closer to home, Leicestershire has
FOR INTEGRATION AND UNDERSTANDING, LEICESTER IS NOW RECOGNISED AS long benefitted from twinning with
similar European destinations –
ONE OF EUROPE’S TRULY COSMOPOLITAN CITIES. as well as places in South America.

11. Leicestershire has the largest economy in the We are also brilliantly connected at the heart of
East Midlands, thanks to an extraordinary the county – with London just over an hour away
combination of positive factors. by train, Paris just four hours, 16 European
capitals accessible from our main airport, and
Our young and culturally-diverse population is
easy access to the UK’s motorway network.
proud to work in Leicester – one of Britain’s most
creative cities, on a par with London – to shop in Our strong performance in food and drink,
its world-class retail centres, and study at its innovation, financial services and creativity
three esteemed universities. continues to attract new business and investment.
The fact that we are home to 350 foreign-owned
businesses – including renowned firms such as
Caterpillar, Pepsico UK and DHL – is testimony to
the resilience of our economy.
in a place with
no boundaries, a
thriving population
helps businesses
prosper.
LEICESTERSHIRE’S ECONOMY GIVES EVERY BUSINESS HERE
A CONFIDENCE OF FUTURE EXCELLENCE.

12. THE COLLECTIVE MIGHT OF OUR WORKFORCE
HAS ENSURED THAT LEICESTERSHIRE’S REPUTATION
FOR INDUSTRIOUSNESS HAS SPANNED CENTURIES.
in a place with Leicestershire’s skilled workforce has a tremendous
reputation for industriousness, diversity and
innovation and has forged a global reputation in
no boundaries,
engineering, food and drink and financial services.
It has been a hub for business activity since as far
back as Roman times and remains as energetic now
as it was back then.
More than half a million people work here every day,
a committed
aided by the 1.2 million workers who are available to
commute to Leicestershire.
Boasting an exceptional level of ethnic diversity
means our collective manpower can speak in thirty
workforce always
five languages, meaning we communicate
effortlessly with business partners in every corner of
the planet. This is an enormous advantage since we
have a great deal to provide to the world.
It was here, after all, that DNA Genetic
gets the best
Fingerprinting was discovered, where the first jet
engine was developed to perfection and where the
world’s first hydrogen powered motorcycle first
roared into life.
And it is in such diverse fields that Leicestershire
job done.
continues to innovate. The area boasts a huge range
of private sector research and development
organisations, including the esteemed Motor
Industry Research Association, the automotive
research and development centre used by
manufacturers from across the world.

13. Image courtesy of Leicester Mercury

14. Image from Leicestershire Imagebank. Photography by John Higginson.

15. THE COMING TOGETHER OF SO MANY BRILLIANT MINDS
MEANS LEICESTERSHIRE IS RARELY SHORT OF ANSWERS.
in a place with
no boundaries,
the thirst for greater
knowledge is never
quenched.
Leicestershire is a truly remarkable area for higher To many firms the opportunity to employ a graduate
education, boasting no fewer than three from a university in Britain’s top ten percent – as is
distinguished universities, a unique feat for a the case with University of Leicester graduates –
non-metropolitan area in the British Isles. is, naturally, irresistible.
It is here that some 50,000 students flock from And since many of our 15,000 annual graduates
around the world, enticed by the stellar reputations remain in the area the productive bonds built directly
enjoyed by the Universities of Leicester, between the universities and enthusiastic local
De Montfort and Loughborough. employers continues to go from strength to strength.
Here they will absorb the state-of-the- art learning Added to the enviably high quality of graduates the
in their fields and often progress to become industry schools of Leicestershire continue to furnish
leaders in space and bio-medical sciences, our industry with new staff who boast better pass
engineering and, increasingly, the creative sphere. rates than any other in the East Midlands.

16. CHAMPIONS OF BRITISH INNOVATION
ON LAND, AIR AND SPACE.
Leicestershire’s long tradition with innovation and With three top universities pushing the boundaries
invention truly began back in the 1700s, when canny in research and development by working in close
local farmer Robert Bakewell’s imaginative approach conjunction with regional firms, great minds in
to farming transformed livestock breeding and Leicestershire are determined to keep pushing
irrigation methods around the world. industrial technology forward.
Since then Leicestershire’s technology and Perhaps most fascinating of all the continuing
innovations have gone on to conquer huge quests for innovation is in the work carried out in
challenges in every industrial sphere, even pushing and around the National Space Centre – now a
through mankind’s final frontier – into space. world leader in planetarium software.
The long list of scientific achievements and mind The centre evolved from a partnership with the
blowing advancements carried out here could both University of Leicester’s Space Research Centre
impress and bamboozle the sharpest of minds. which has been at the forefront of designing
applications, devices and equipment that have been
From developing the jet engine, to discovering
sent into the furthest reaches of the solar system.
genetic fingerprinting, to hydrogen-powered
motorcycles, mini gamma ray cameras and Leicestershire is clearly a hotbed of innovative
becoming this nation’s first environment city twenty activity; a region that is always keen to embrace new
years ago, the list of greatness is almost endless. ideas and even brave new worlds.
in a place
with no boundaries,
innovation has
no limits.

19. in a place
with no
boundaries,
everywhere’s
near and
nowhere’s
Being at the centre of things is the perfect location
for any business. In Leicestershire, our close
proximity to important destinations and easy access
to the fastest transport facilities places us at the
geographic bull’s eye.
London’s St Pancras International station is little
too far.
over an hour away, Birmingham less, Manchester
and Leeds just two, Paris or Brussels a little over
four hours by Eurostar.
The transportation of goods is fast and efficient
thanks to our East Midlands Airport – the primary
pure-freight airport in the UK.
For commuters and business visitors there are no
fewer than four motorways, running like major
arteries through the region. The fastest of these
boasts one of Britain’s fastest average travel speeds
and helps guarantee one of the country’s shortest
average commute times.
OUR CENTRAL POSITION AND UNIQUE ROAD, RAIL AND AIR LINKS These and the bold pattern of A-roads crisscrossing
the area mean very easy accessibility to the closest
MAKE LEICESTERSHIRE AN IDEAL LOCATION FOR BUSINESS. ports of Harwich and Felixstowe.

20. A blend of rustic splendour, boundless urban energy
and gentle suburban bliss is perhaps what best
describes living here.
That one might enjoy the bustle of shopping in
Leicester, Britain’s fourth greenest city, then
moments later be sauntering through a pretty
market town and shortly thereafter be strolling
through quite magnificent countryside is the kind of
WITH ITS VIBRANT, FRESHLY-DEVELOPED URBAN CENTRE, ATTRACTIVE BLEND variety we all aspire to.
OF CITY, SUBURB AND VILLAGE LIVING AND ENDLESS ACRES OF BREATHTAKING Yet in Leicestershire it’s an everyday occurrence.
Few, if any, areas in Britain can compete with
COUNTRYSIDE, LEICESTERSHIRE RANKS AMONG THE BEST PLACES IN BRITAIN Leicestershire’s quality of life, fewer still with its
TO RAISE A FAMILY. enviable cost of living.
With competitive salaries and affordable housing,
effortless commutes, endless forms of
in a place with
entertainment and a history that can be traced back
to before the Romans, this is a home boasting a
wealth of life’s riches.
During summer months the more adventurous
might enjoy wild weekends at our various music
no boundaries,
festivals, while there are laughs galore to be had at
Britain’s oldest comedy festival.
With the excitement of racing at Donington Park,
world class rugby union, cricket and football taking
a better
place here, Leicestershire is ideal for the true
sports fan.
And for those keener to participate, there are thirty
one high-quality golf courses.
In all, it is entirely fair to say that Leicestershire’s
quality of life
growing, glowing population thoroughly enjoys a
quality of life of which other regions can only dream.
It’s little wonder that the area tied in a vote to define
Britain’s best place to bring up a family and that so
few people choose to move away.
is for everyone
to enjoy.

21. Original photographer Peter Packer / Leicestershire Imagebank.

22. THE AREA’S UNIQUE ECONOMIC ALLIANCE
MEANS THAT IT IS EASIER THAN EVER TO DO BUSINESS
in a place with
no boundaries,
a helping hand
is always on offer
with support
and guidance.
Prospect Leicestershire’s assistance to incoming Of course, no two firms are the same and Prospect To discuss how Prospect Leicestershire’s free,
businesses is so thorough, many new firms claim it Leicestershire therefore provides a bespoke service confidential and impartial services can help your
feels like they always belonged here. to match your firm’s exact requirements. business, please contact us at:
With property and planning services, funding, Whether you need advice on staff relocation, site Prospect Leicestershire Ltd,
development and coordination help it’s fair to say visits, funding, grants, venture capital or have a Two Colton Square, Leicester LE1 1QH
Leicestershire has an abundance of ways to specific property requirement, we urge you
Tel +44 (0)116 225 4071
smoothly assist firms joining our growing economy. to consider us a one-stop shop.
Fax +44 (0)116 248 8129
Our Inward Investment team understands how All that’s required of you is a level of ambition to
invest@prospectleicestershire.co.uk
difficult moving can be and make it their personal match our own, then together we can continue to
www.prospectleicestershire.co.uk
mission to furnish you with the very best knowledge, build towards ever greater things.
understanding and guidance available.