|
||
|
||
 |
recent releases from Leicester Shire Development Agency, Business Link for Leicestershire and Business Link Lincolnshire & Rutland | 
|
|
|
20 December 2002
NEWS RELEASE
NETWORK GOLD STEPS IN TO HELP LOCAL BUSINESSES FIND
A SOLUTION TO THEIR PROPERTY NEEDS
Members of north west Leicestershire's business networking group Network Gold have come together to find a solution to the lack of suitable commercial premises in the area.
This follows a survey of 250 members that shows the shortage of industrial and commercial workspace is the single biggest problem facing businesses in the district. As a result, 11 businesses from Network Gold have formed a sub group, which will present the individuals property requirements as a collective. It is hoped that the power of a group will command more attention and be more successful than individual approaches.
The consortium is being co-ordinated by the Regeneration Division from North West Leicestershire District Council and has engaged, free of charge, the specialist services of the Inward Investment team at Leicester Shire Development Agency to assist with the proposal and liase with local developers. This additional input will allow the group access to expertise which in isolation would not only have been expensive, but also difficult to organise.
Steve Dibnah, manager of the regeneration division at North West Leicestershire district council, said, "Local businesses have identified that the lack of suitable premises is a barrier to expansion in the area and each of the companies involved has experienced difficulties in attracting interest from local developers. We hope that combining their property needs will draw the attention of developers and help to retain these important businesses in the area.
"This initiative is an excellent example of what Network Gold is all about - local businesses helping each other to grow and prosper."
Pankaj Mistry from the LDA, said, "North west Leicestershire is a popular location for businesses due to the flexible personnel available and government grants on offer to relocating companies. It is wrong that firms are being put off the area by a lack of factory space."
Coalville-based manufacturing firm Lastolite is one of the local businesses that has joined the consortium. It has contact with over 50 distributors worldwide and is currently trading from two buildings in the town, as well as a factory in India. The company has been involved in the consortium since it was formed and is looking to move its Coalville operations to single-site premises as soon as possible.
Sean Henry is the managing director and he says developers should take note of the shortage of suitable premises in the area.
"We have all had difficulties in attracting interest from local developers to meet our individual property needs," he said. "This area is ideal for us and we don't want to leave. I just hope that by getting together we can put the pressure on and make some progress."
While the property sub-group is putting together its proposal it is still interested to hear from any other company facing similar problems in north west Leicestershire, and which is interested in joining the consortium. For further details, contact Steve Dibnah on 01530 276105.
Ends
For further media information
CONTACT Kate Downs on 0116 254 4472
Notes to the editor
1. Network Gold is the business forum for companies within North West Leicestershire co-ordinated by the District Council with financial support from Business Link, together with support from the Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce and Stephenson College.
2. The Forum is designed to give local businesses the opportunity to get together for breakfast meetings on a bi-monthly basis to share ideas and best practice, discuss issues that are affecting the business community and to learn from each other's experiences. Each forum meeting has a topic agreed by the members at the previous meeting, with one or two speakers invited to talk on the topic chosen.
3. The Forum also arranges company tours where members have the opportunity to see how other members businesses operate on a daily basis and issues that have affected them.
4. Lastolite manufacture photographic and video accessories, specialising in background lighting products, Cromotek filters and imaging manipulation software. The company was established 15 years ago and has now become a household name amongst photographers worldwide. Current turnover is more than £2 million per year and the Coalville sites employ 42 people.
|
|
  | ||