13
March
2026
[Leicester 11-03-26] Leicestershire Innovation Festival 2026 opened with a fireside chat facilitated by 1284 Communications.
Held at Holiday Inn Leicester, the launch event brought together small business innovators from across Leicestershire for an open discussion on R&D across the region and how local companies are turning ideas into commercial success.
1284 Managing Director George Oliver facilitated the conversation, speaking with four Leicestershire business leaders who are putting research and development into action.
The panel was: Gerry Boyce (Hive Composites and Met-Ol), Janie Morgan-Wood (Frock Tales Ltd), Craig Roberts (Cande Group), and Angela Orton (Structural Adhesives).
The panel shared first-hand experiences of driving innovation in their sectors, ranging from advanced materials and manufacturing to creative industries and business services.
Throughout the discussion, they highlighted the importance of managing risk, attracting and retaining talent, and communicating new ideas effectively to customers and stakeholders.
The event drew a diverse audience of entrepreneurs, educators, and business leaders eager to explore practical ways to boost productivity and growth. Core themes emerging from the conversation included:
George brought his storytelling perspective to the discussion, reflecting on how clear messaging and consistent communications can help translate innovative thinking into viable business opportunities. He also shared insights from 1284’s own innovation journey, including development of its platform CommsTally®, supported by Innovate UK funding.
George, who co-founded the Leicestershire Innovation Awards in 2018 during his time as Editor of the Leicester Mercury, said: George, who co-founded the Leicestershire Innovation Awards in 2018 during his time as Editor of the Leicester Mercury, said: “The discussion was genuinely fascinating because it showed just how differently innovation can look from one business to the next, even within the same county.
“By hearing candid stories about risk, funding, skills and culture from four very different leaders, I think everyone in the room left with something practical they could try in their own organisation - whether that’s finding space to think more strategically about R&D, communicating ideas more clearly to stakeholders, or simply having the confidence to make small improvements that compound over time.
“This festival proves that innovation isn’t restricted to big organisations. Watching small businesses push boundaries, adopt new tech, and rethink how they grow - that’s what real innovation looks like.
The week-long festival, organised by the Business Gateway Growth Hub, runs until Friday and features 10 events across Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland. It offers business leaders opportunities to:
ENDS
Pictures show the launch of Leicestershire Innovation Festival 2026 at the Holiday Inn Leicester (Credit: Business Gateway Growth Hub)
NOTES TO EDITORS
Leicestershire Innovation Festival (LIF)
LIF is an annual celebration of ideas and improvements which drive increased productivity among businesses operating in Leicester and Leicestershire. Founded by the Business Gateway Growth Hub in 2018, LIF brings together public, private, and education partners as the hosts of a number of events across the region. LIF26 runs from 9-13 March 2026.
Business Gateway Growth Hub (BGGH)
The Business Gateway Growth Hub is a trusted source of independent business support in Leicester and Leicestershire. Part of a national network of Growth Hubs, it provides small and medium-sized businesses with impartial signposting to funding information, networking, growth advice, and more. Research shows that businesses which access support grow faster than those that do not. The Business Gateway Growth Hub’s expert team has established relationships with delivery partners in a wide range of local and national development programmes. It also uses its connections in regional business to make it simpler for busy SMEs to win investment, access training, and become more productive.
CONTACT
Emma is Content Director at 1284 Communications. She has an MA in Journalism, a BA in Communications Studies and more than 15 years' experience as a journalist. Emma previously served as Senior Journalism Lecturer at the Universities of Sheffield and Derby, and was News Editor at the Newcastle Chronicle and Journal.
