02-02-2010 | Big It Up Bulletin - January 2010
Here is the latest update for Big It Up campaigners on major projects and good news stories for Leicester and Leicestershire, brought to you by Leicester Shire Promotions.
If you have any more Big It Up stories to tell of how you, your colleagues or organisation have championed the cause of Leicester and Leicestershire, please feed appropriate details through to Simon Gribbon at Leicester Shire Promotions on 0116 225 4001 or email simon.gribbon@l-p-l.com
Starring role for Leicestershire attractions in major new Gervais film
The Great Central Railway in Loughborough is set to feature as a backdrop in a major British film called ‘Cemetery Junction' - the eagerly anticipated directorial debut from comics Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. A 1970s-set comedy focusing on three upstart professional men working at an insurance company, Cemetery Junction stars a stellar cast including Ralph Fiennes and Emily Watson, and is due for release in April this year. The scenes in Leicestershire were filmed in June 2009 at the Great Central Railway and also at the Bell Foundry in Loughborough as the result of work by EM Media and Leicester Shire Promotions to promote Leicester and Leicestershire's locations for filming projects. To view the trailer, please click here.
County becoming high-octane hub of UK
Leicestershire is fast becoming the high-octane capital of the UK after it emerged a second 'supercar' was being created in the county. The launch of Fenix Automotive's new 200mph sports car comes after production of the £200,000 Noble M600 began in Braunstone. The Noble M600, which has been praised by BBC Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson, has a top speed of 225mph and will do 0-62mph in three seconds. The Fenix, which will cost between £75,000 and £99,000, will accelerate from 0-100mph in under seven seconds and have a top speed of 200mph.
Local lawyer named among UK's top 100
A lawyer has been named among the UK's top 100 in her profession by an industry magazine. Mary Mackintosh, a partner at Freeth Cartwright in Leicester, has been included in The Lawyer magazine's closely-watched Hot 100. She is the only person from the Midlands to make this year's list and the first from Leicestershire to be included.
Indian banking giant moves into Leicester
Up to 11 jobs will be created as one of India's largest banks opens its first UK branch outside London. Canara Bank, which has received assistance in its opening from the Leicester and Leicestershire inward investment agency, Prospect Leicestershire, is to open its Leicester branch on Belgrave Road. Business leaders said the bank's decision to move to the city was another sign of strong trade links between Leicester and India.
Local companies' shares soared by 40 per cent in 2009
Publicly-quoted companies based in Leicestershire enjoyed a boost in confidence in 2009 as share prices soared. The county's 14 Stock Market-listed businesses saw their combined value rise by 40 per cent in 2009. The biggest increase over the year by close of trading on December 31 was with tile and wood flooring chain Topps Tiles, which saw its price rise by nearly 300 per cent. Other strong performers included Next, which saw its share price soar by 90 per cent, and homewares retailer Dunelm, whose price was up by 185 per cent.
Loughborough tops Student Experience poll for 4th year running
For the fourth year in succession, Loughborough's students have voted their university experience to be the very best in the country, according to the latest student experience poll. The league table, published in the Times Higher Education magazine, reveals the views of full-time undergraduate students on numerous aspects of university life including the quality of teaching, student support, social life and student facilities. Loughborough students voted the University top for its facilities, including its students' union, and also rated it highly for the environment on campus and the extracurricular activities.
National Space Centre team joins NASA
The National Space Centre's Space Academy team has been invited to take centre-stage at the world's largest space education conference at NASA's Johnson Space Centre in Houston. In addition, the National Space Centre has been invited to forge a long-term partnership with NASA's longest running education programme. The collaboration between the Space Academy project and NASA's Aerospace Educator Services Project (AESP) is the first US-UK space education partnership of its kind and is firm testament to the quality of scientists, teachers and other personnel involved in the Space Academy project.
Home to research ‘most likely to change the world'
A pioneering breakthrough in forensic crime detection developed by an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Leicester's Forensic Research Centre has won recognition from BBC Focus magazine. Scientific Support Manager at Northamptonshire Police, Dr John Bond's technique of ‘fingerprint visualising' has been selected as one of the British innovations most likely to have the biggest impact on the world in the next few years by the magazine's science, technology and future awards 2009.
City is market leader according to national newspaper
A national poll has named Leicester Market one of the best in the country. The Guardian newspaper compiled a list of top marketplaces in the UK based on their traditions, quality of goods and character. Leicester Market, which has been a trading hub for more than 700 years, is featured alongside London, Manchester, Belfast and Bristol.
School head is top of the class
The head teacher of a Leicester school has been praised for her achievements at a prestigious reception at 10 Downing Street. Sally Morrison, who is head teacher at Eyres Monsell Primary School, and chair of governors Boyd Pick, were among 150 head teachers from across the UK who attended the event hosted by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls. The event was held in recognition of the heads' innovative approaches to education and their commitment to raising achievement in their schools.
William Davis builder wins industry award
A local builder is celebrating after winning an industry accolade. Site manager Tony Armson, of Loughborough firm William Davis, beat competition from thousands of entrants to be named one of the overall winners of in the Pride in the Job Awards. He received the Medium Builder gong, one of four categories in the contest, which is run by the National House-Building Council (NHBC).
Travel agent wins national award
A local travel agent who works from home has won a national industry award.
Jo Rigby, an agent for Cruise Thomas Cook, has received Carnival UK's cruise sales person of the year award at the UK Cruise Awards. She beat thousands of agents from around the country to pick up the award on board the Cunard's Queen Victoria cruise ship.
Loughborough University device could prevent terrorism
A new device developed by Loughborough University that can identify tiny amounts of explosive particles - invisible to the naked eye - could provide the solution to better protecting the travelling public from acts of terrorism. The University's Explosive Residue Detection technology can remotely scan crowded areas, such as airports and train stations, automatically alerting an operator if it detects traces of explosives. The system is non-evasive, works in real time, causes no delays to passengers and is fully automated. The device is currently undergoing field trials at a number of undisclosed locations across the country.
Local boy Selby wins snooker's Masters
Leicester snooker ace Mark Selby won his second Masters title after reaching the final for the third time in as many years in a repeat of the previous year's final, where he lost to Ronnie O'Sullivan. O'Sullivan took a commanding lead at 9-6 leaving him just one frame from victory, but Selby played some of his best snooker of the season to overcome the three-frame deficit, taking the championship 10-9 and the £150,000 winner's cheque.
Finalists announced for the Leicestershire Business Awards 2010
Twenty companies have been shortlisted for the 2010 awards spanning a variety of local industries. Marking the 17th year of the Leicestershire Business Awards which recognise and celebrate business success across the county, this year is set to be a very exciting year and the shortlisted companies will now eagerly await the Gala Dinner on 23 April. For a list of the finalists or to book a place at the gala dinner, please visit www.bizawards.co.uk
Kasabian lead nominations for Shockwaves NME Awards 2010
The shortlists for the Shockwaves NME Awards 2010 have been announced and Leicester band Kasabian is leading the nominations field, being up for six gongs including Best Band, Best Album and Best Live Band. The band is also up for the award's latest gong-the Giving It Back Fan Award - an accolade launched this year to note acts that go the extra yard for their fans.
Only Fools and Horses star films in Leicester market
Only Fools and Horses star, Roger Lloyd Pack, recently dropped into Leicester Market. The actor, who played Trigger in the 80s sitcom, was on location in the city centre to star in ‘The Good Old Men of Leicester'- a short drama about Leicester Market's traders. Screenwriters Neale Craston, 30, and Al Mackay, 29, from Leicester, won cash to make the movie after entering the script in a regional arts competition.
Economic development chiefs to meet in the city
Leicester is playing host to leading figures from newly-formed economic development companies from across the UK. The event, co-ordinated by the Department of Communities and Local Government, will see representatives sharing successes and best practice and discussing challenges in driving forward the coordination of economic development in different parts of the country. When it was formed last year, Prospect Leicestershire was the first Economic Development Company of its kind, and officials will give a report on its success.
Local hotels and restaurants listed in new Michelin 2010 Guide
Leicester and Leicestershire restaurants and hotels feature prominently in the new MICHELIN Guide Great Britain & Ireland 2010. The publication is one of the most prestigious guides to eating out in the UK and 19 pubs, restaurants and hotels from the city and county feature in the latest 2010 edition. This listing includes three establishments - Horseshoe Cottage Farm, Homestead House and Hotel Maiyango - that feature for the first time.
Leicestershire claims oldest Roman coin in Britain
What is believed to be the oldest Roman coin ever found in Britain makes its museum debut, 2220 years after it was made. The silver denarius coin is now on display at Harborough Museum in Market Harborough alongside other coins that were excavated with it. The coin was found during excavation of a site near the village of Hallaton, Leicestershire.
Loughborough hotel wins at Hotel Excellence Awards
imago was one of the main winners of the Hotel Excellence Awards 2010. Organised by HRS.com in association with the British Hospitality Association (BHA) and the Best Practice Forum, this was the third annual ceremony and Loughborough's imago at Burleigh Court hotel triumphed in the Excellent Social Responsibility category.
Pioneering project to boost regional lead in creative industries
A project supported by De Montfort University (DMU) Leicester to establish a digital creative business hub for the East Midlands and highlight the region's lead in creative industries has been launched. The project, called CPulse: East Midlands, encourages creativity in the region and provides a platform for creative industries to promote and develop their business through a global online network and showcase portal.
‘Quite interesting fact' discovered at University of Leicester
The QI 'elves', the fact finding researchers for the BBC Two programme 'Quite Interesting', have drawn upon research by University of Leicester geologists for their 2010 edition of the QI Annual. Professor David Siveter's discovery of what is thought to be the oldest preserved male sexual organ appears in an article on the more unusual reproductive organs of the animal world.
And finally...
The Big It Up Bulletin is produced in conjunction with Leicester Mercury's ‘The
Business' supplement. For the latest business news in Leicester and Leicestershire, visit www.thisisbusiness-eastmidlands.co.uk/News/Leicestershire.aspx
