The Leicester Business Festival (LBF) 2024 officially kicked off on Monday, November 4, celebrating its 10 year milestone and the region’s creative and collaborative business community.
The opening event was held at the brand new Blackbird Industrial Park, situated on the site of a former housing depot on Blackbird Road. This state-of-the-art development features four buildings that offer over 30,000 square feet of light industrial workspace across 21 units, designed for local start-ups and growing businesses.
With a strong emphasis on sustainability, all the buildings include low carbon, energy-efficient features such as roof-mounted solar panels, excellent insulation, and smart lighting, along with electric vehicle charging stations and secure bicycle storage. The units will be available for lease starting in winter 2024, ranging in size from 750 to 2,500 square feet.
The festival’s opening highlighted Leicester’s recognition as the fifth most creative city in the UK. City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby underscored the importance of the festival and shared exciting upcoming initiatives, including a creative industry strategy launching on November 15 during the festival and exposed ambitious redevelopment plans for the city centre, such as a £22 million upgrade of the railway station and enhancements to the Leicester Waterside area.
Rajiv Popat, ITV news reporter, hosted the event, bringing together local businesses, entrepreneurs and industry leaders to showcase innovation, creativity and share insights. During the event, Rajiv interviewed Milan Gosai from Paani Bottles, a Leicester-based company that produces handcrafted copper water bottles. Launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, Paani Bottles combines traditional Ayurvedic practices with modern health benefits, such as improved digestion and antibacterial properties. Each bottle is made from over 99% pure copper, supports local artisans, and helps reduce plastic waste, appealing to customers who value authentic and sustainable products.
