De Montfort University VC to open Leicestershire Innovation Festival 2026
Professor Katie Normington will deliver the official welcome at the launch event of Leicestershire Innovation Festival 2026.
Professor Normington, the Chair of the Leicestershire Innovation Advisory Group and Vice‑Chancellor of De Montfort University, will welcome delegates and frame the festival's role within regional and UK economic strategy.
The launch session of LIF26 - entitled What Does Innovation Mean to You and Your Business? – will set the scene for a week-long series of events aimed at promoting and stimulating innovative growth in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland. There are full details of all events here.
Government strategy has been clear about the economic benefit of small business growth and increased productivity. Innovation has long been recognised as a key driver.
As Chair of the Leicestershire Innovation Advisory Group and HE Member of the Leicester and Leicestershire Business Board, Prof Normington will set out how 10 festival events will cover essential innovation themes including skills, technology and finance.
Several of the events are held in partnership with the region's three universities - including the event on availability of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) being delvered by the Universities Partnership at Space Park on Friday 13 March. You can reserve places for that here.
Innovation for small business growth
After welcoming guests, Prof Normington will then introduce a panel of five local small business leaders, who will each discuss the detail of how they are introducing innovative practices and systems in order to build efficiency and channel growth.
The informal fireside chat will be hosted by George Oliver, founder of 1284 Communications, which is due to complete its own first Innovate UK-funded project in March 2026.
He will speak with panellists with decades of experience in building innovative and R&D-focused companies. They are:
- Gerry Boyce, Director, Hive Composites
- Janie Morgan-Wood, CEO, Frock Tales
- Craig Roberts, Business Manager, Cande Group
- Angela Orton, Managing Director, Structural Adhesives.
Limited places are available for the funded launch event. You can book here now.
It will take place at the Holiday Inn, in central Leicester, from 8am to 11:30am on Monday 9 March.
Picture: Beth Walsh Photography
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