51Âþ»­

51Âþ»­ Leicester (51Âþ»­) is supporting this year’s Leicestershire Innovation Festival, an annual celebration of ideas and improvements in businesses of all sizes operating in Leicester and Leicestershire.

This year’s theme is Small Changes Big Impact, explore simple changes that businesses can make that can transform productivity. There are 20 free events taking place across the city and county, including on 51Âþ»­’s campus.

Helen Donnellan, director of Research Business and Innovation at festival partner 51Âþ»­, said: “The festival theme of Small Change, Big Impact, is something that resonates strongly with us as a university which works closely with the business community. 

"Research shows that small, incremental changes done consistently can have a profound effect on productivity and therefore economic development.”

51Âþ»­ academics will be taking part in several Innovation Festival events, including:

Brewing Innovative Ideas Roadshow: Oadby and Wigston
Thursday 8 February, 9.30am-2.30pm
Oadby and Wigston Borough Council Offices
A chance to explore collaborative innovation opportunities with the county’s three universities, including Innovate UK grant funded Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.

Designing Tomorrow’s Workplace: A Blueprint for Innovation

Monday 12 February, 12-3pm
Innovation Centre, 51Âþ»­

51Âþ»­ has teamed up with Blueprint Interiors and It’s Time to Change to explore how office design can help companies build happier, more motivated teams. Senior lecturer in Psychology Lis Ku, Nicky Harding subject lead in Interior Design join Rob Day and Chloe Sproston from Blueprint Interiors and Kris Newman of Steelcase global design firm and Lisa from It’s Time to Change for this session.

Cyber Connect: Where IT meets everyone
Tuesday 13 February, 2-4pm
Gateway House, 51Âþ»­

Most of the cases of cybercrime are a result of the “human factors” – the role we all have to play in preventing criminals getting access to your company’s data. Criminals use our desire to be liked and helpful in designing ways to get their hands on information. This is aimed at helping SMEs and professional services organisations and giving them practical tools and awareness to make sure their data is kept secure.