About LBV

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Welcome to Leicestershire Business Voice

At LBV we sit at the heart of our local business community, providing representation, information and guidance, supporting our members and the wider business community at local and regional levels. We help Leicestershire businesses thrive, working with local and regional decision makers to shape and influence policy affecting our economy. No matter the size or type of your business, or whether your objectives are on a local, national or global scale, at LBV we can help you meet your goals.

LBV was created by business professionals within the city and council who recognised a need for a focal point where the experience and expertise of business people could be used for the benefit of the business and local community. LBV includes organisations of all sizes and across all sectors, and high on the LBV agenda is helping local businesses thrive, so we work with key decision makers to stimulate debate, raise areas of concern and shape policy affecting businesses. LBV is a non-profit making organisation, controlled by a Board of Directors, who on behalf of the membership are responsible for establishing the overall strategic direction of the business.

GOAL

For LBV to play a leading role in helping Leicestershire be a great place to do business in a changing world.

HOW

Influence… the decision-making bodies and key organisations, be a critical friend and support actions that lead to better business
Inform… members on key developments and how they can benefit from and contribute to the overarching goal.
Initiate… and develop activities, partnerships and promote innovation to enhance Leicestershire as a great place to do business.

VALUES

To be flexible, innovative, and visionary – we believe that with imagination, direction and determination, Leicestershire can thrive as a modern, global business centre.

To promote and reflect the diversity and vitality of Leicestershire in respect of business sectors and demographics.

Have a ‘can do’ attitude and willingness to learn and support business interests.

Recognise the economic and social value of business.

OBJECTIVES

Internal for LBV
• Financial viability.
• LBV membership– grow the size (50 in 2021) and broaden membership with a greater diversity of business backgrounds and experiences.
• Board membership – maintain and grow size (optimal around 10) and its diversity.

External
• Deliver an engaging and diverse business events programme that challenges and informs.
• Undertake regular engagement with stakeholders to influence and inform.
• Provide a platform to promote business growth and do better business.

CORE MISSION
• Connect private to private and private to public to help build business success in Leicestershire.
• Promote / showcase business excellence.
• Influence key decision makers to provide more fertile ground for business.
• Inform business to help them with their decision making.
• Enable networking for the benefit of the local area.

ENABLERS and ASSETS

Our Members…their funds, influence, networks, knowledge, and skills
Our Directors… their influence, programmes, knowledge, and skills
Our stakeholders…their influence, programmes, knowledge, and skills

• LLEP.
• East Midlands Chamber.
• Institute of Directors.
• Federation of Small Businesses.
• Mayor’s Office / Leicester City Council.
• Leicestershire County Council.
• District and Borough Councils.
• University of Leicester, De Montfort University and Loughborough University.
• Further education colleges.
• Local business media – Leicester Mercury and Business Insider.
• Business Improvement Districts throughout Leicestershire.
• Unaffiliated business groups and business networks (e.g. start-up networks, independent trader
groups, professional creative community).
• Local MPs.

Our events and communication channels…via social media/website and relationships with local media.

LOCAL BUSINESS ISSUES
• Education.
• Low skills / low wages.
• Staff retention / attraction.
• Brexit / Covid – new ways of working.
• Infrastructure investment.
• Access to finance.
• Stress / mental health of business owners / employees.
• Fragmented business environment.
• Risk aversion – lack of confidence.
• Demographic of business community – exodus of business leaders/expertise.

HOW DO WE BETTER UNDERSTAND OUR MEMBERS
• Communications – two way.
• Raise issues and understand business needs at/after our events including gathering intelligence from social media.
• Member panel events.
• Speakers/guests at board meetings.

HOW DO WE MAKE GREATER IMPACT
• Wider representation amongst membership.
• Stronger relationships with key decision-makers/stakeholders.
• Political engagement particularly with Leicestershire County Council.
• Joint events / working together.
• Links with other organisations / websites / communications.
• Responding to hot local business issues.
• Wider sector representation.

SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE…
• More members and from a wider breadth of businesses.
• Multiple engagement from within each member.
• Members coming to us with business issues.
• Invited to contribute on key local decisions.
• Making a difference on key local business issues.
• Board Members seeing value from their contribution.

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

Influence
To have a voice on the local issues that concern local business.

Inform
To receive updates on developments in Leicestershire that impact on local business and raise awareness of businesses within the LBV community. All of this within a LBV culture noted for its friendliness and approachability.

Initiate
Have opportunities to network and collaborate on initiatives that benefit LBV members and across Leicestershire.
Provide a forum to discuss, debate and collaboratively solve challenges and issues specific to the area.

More specifically….
➢ Free event access.
➢ To inform via a targeted events programme.
➢ A free ticket and subsequent tickets at reduced rate for the annual LBV dinner with keynote speaker.
➢ Recognition of member business through LBV communication.
➢ Link from LBV website.
➢ Opportunity to be featured as part of YourVoice.
➢ Regular newsletters.

MEMBERSHIP COST
Annual cost of £125 (for business of 1-10 employees) and £250 (for business of 11+ employees).
A cost unchanged since 2010.

Robin Pointon
Chair
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Robin Pointon

Raised in Yorkshire, Robin has lived in Leicester since 1985. In the that time, he has worked for Arriva, Leicestershire County Council and Leicester Shire Promotions. In 2008, he set up his own business, Go Travel Solutions, a specialist sustainable transport consultancy. Also during that time, the West End of Leicester has become his home with a family of five.

He aims to make a positive difference in the work he does with a desire to see individuals and organisations develop and grow. Motivated by Christian faith, he seeks to bring honesty, energy and creativity in the work he does. He is a keen supporter of Bradford City…and of course the many sporting teams of Leicester!

Mukesh Bulsara
Vice Chair
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Mukesh Bulsara

A graduate of Warwick Business School and a Chartered Accountant, Mukesh is a specialist Corporate Finance Lead Advisor. Mukesh is a partner at Coadax LLP and has over 25 years of dedicated mergers & acquisitions experience with a track record of leading teams on successful transactions across a wide range of sectors, locally and worldwide.

Interacting daily with companies, lawyers, bankers, accountants and other business professionals, Mukesh provides strategic and forward-thinking advice to his clients and to the LBV board.

Proud to be Leicester born and bred, Mukesh is a passionate supporter of Leicester City Football Club, Leicester Riders Basketball Club and Leicestershire County Cricket Club. He is also a very keen Leicestershire & Rutland Cricket League club cricketer.

Neil McGhee
Director
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Neil McGhee

Neil McGhee lives and works in the city, but is keen to see our whole area become a great place to grow businesses. Since 2002, he has grown Sempervox from start up to managing business networks, their calls and business data – helping companies run their business from anywhere in the world.

As an LBV Director, he wants to hear business issues, raise awareness and drive their resolution into the ‘bodies’ responsible for improving the business environment within Leicestershire. To make this happen, he has joined the main board of the LLEP, representing LBV. He also now chairs the developing Business Gateway Board and to help improve the commercial skills of young people, has joined WQE as an Enterprise Advisor and now a Governor.

Roger Merchant
Director
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Roger Merchant

Roger is a Chartered Accountant and partner at UHY Hacker Young. Roger works with a wide range of charities and larger family businesses, providing accounting, audit, tax and strategic advice. During his career Roger has worked in London and Warsaw before moving to the East Midlands in 1995. In his spare time, he is a Trustee/Director of Warwick Care Homes, Derby Museums, Leicester College and Leicester Business Voice, as well as a Council member for the Institute of Chartered Accountants, representing Leicestershire. Roger is married to Jo and they live in Loughborough. They have four grown up sons, three of whom are also Chartered Accountants. His leisure activities include football (Leicester City season ticket holder), travel and golf (18 handicap).

Jane Cowley
Director
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Jane Cowley

Jane is a Family Law Partner at Geldards LLP. She is an experienced family lawyer and advises clients on all aspects of relationship and family matters including complex financial issues, involving owner-managed businesses, company restructuring, offshore assets and issues of liquidity and taxation.

Jane was a previous Chair of LBV and has returned as a board member. She is a member of the De Montfort University Legal Advisory Board and a collaborative lawyer. Jane is often called on to advise BBC radio and television on family law matters and is proud to be a legal adviser for ITV Emmerdale.

Jane lives in Leicestershire and her legal practice extends across the East Midlands.

Iain McKenzie
Director
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Iain McKenzie

Iain was born in Scotland and moved to Leicester over 20 years ago to study design management at De Montfort University. Since then, he has worked as a graphic designer, manager of the Tower Climbing Centre for Leicester City Council, a freelance consultant and chaired the BMC Competition Committee while climbing was bidding to become an Olympic sport. He joined Mattioli Woods in August 2018 as an Executive Risk Consultant before progressing to his current role as Group Operating Officer.

One of Iain’s key strengths is a clear understanding of change and risk management, which has enabled him to engage with a wide variety of people at every level of his working life, from teaching autistic children through to advising board directors of listed companies. Out of work, he enjoys being outside with his family, rock climbing, mountaineering, biking and travelling in his camper van.

Sandra Wiggins
Director
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Sandra Wiggins

Sandra co-founded her jointly owned business, DPI, in 2014, following corporate roles in the world of engineering, manufacturing and international logistics. She has launched several businesses, one of which led her to become a publican and another a self-employed administration, accounting and management specialist.

Sandra is the founder of Authentically Balanced, helping the SME manufacturing community to create cultural change by engaging their stakeholders to invest in behavioural and psychology safety through EQ hearts and minds leadership, coaching and mentoring.

Sandra is an LLEP Innovation board and steering group member, Co Vice-Chair for the Leicestershire Manufacturing Network, and a MAKE UK Regional Advisory Board member.

She is passionate about making a difference for the SME and manufacturing communities, driving change, and using her voice to highlight and address disparities.

Anjuu Trevedi MBE
Director
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Anjuu Trevedi MBE

Anjuu heads up Knowledge Exchange and Innovation at De Montfort University. She brings to the university in-depth knowledge and successful track record of delivering industry-university collaborations thanks to 23 plus years in the higher education sector. As the Head of Knowledge Exchange and Innovation, Anjuu’s ambition is to accelerate and grow R&D and innovation-led collaborations with the private and third sector businesses, especially SMEs, as well as the public sector.In addition to the Knowledge Exchange and Innovation role at DMU, Anjuu also leads Twycross Zoo’s partnerships development for the brand-new NSCC (National Science and Conservation Centre), a mini university biodiversity conservation ‘centre of excellence’ being built adjacent to the Zoo. As the Senior Partnerships Development Manager NSCC, Anjuu’s focus is to engage and develop strategic collaborations with universities, business partners and stakeholders to deliver greater biodiversity conservation-led R&D, innovation, educational programmes and public engagement.

Mark Robinson
Director
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Mark Robinson

Leicestershire native Mark, an alumnus of Loughborough Art College, pursued graphic communications studies. Post-graduation, his diverse career included roles as a graphic designer, creative director, and client service director. Co-founding Creative62 in 2006, he’s played a pivotal role in its success, serving clients across the UK in various sectors. Additionally, Mark holds a strategic partnership with Mosaic 1898, a disability charity, part of his commitment to social causes.

A strong advocate for micro to small business growth, Mark draws from extensive practical experience, offering insights into business, marketing, and branding discussions. His passion extends to championing the significance of micro and small businesses in regional and national economies.

Outside work, Mark cherishes home life, spending leisure time with his wife, indulging in reading, music, refining his culinary skills and time on his allotment.

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