‘Imagine what we could do’ Glen Parva, Wigston, South Wigston, Birstall and Blaby are all connected to one Leicestershire councillor – but he’s not lived a sheltered life when it comes to business and knowing what makes for a great county to live and work in WORDS BY KERRY SMITH
“I
’ve worked in other cities around the UK and spent lots of my time in London. I love arriving in London… but I also love leaving!” Says Paul Hartshorn, Blaby councillor and owner of IT consultancy MR H IT. He’s lived around the various boroughs of Leicestershire, so he knows a thing or two about the county. He says this is his true home, and he’s passionate to promote its appeal to the rest of the UK. “One of the main reasons I became a councillor was to promote the place where I live and gain respect for the city, drive new investment, and get people to invest here because it’s a great place to be.” We asked Paul what’s great and what’s not so great about Leicestershire.
Why is Leicester the best location to work in?
“You’re never more than a couple of hours’ journey from other cities. It’s great for business, because you can travel to see clients anywhere with ease with us being in such a central
location. My competition is based in Manchester, and they struggle to work with some companies further south because of their location.” Affordability “It’s a great place for start-up businesses looking for opportunities because Leicestershire isn’t too expensive. It’s got everything you need, and most things are affordable.” Culture “Leicester has really put itself on the map with its sporting achievements and its history. People around the world now know who we are.” Resilience “It’s a shame that Leicestershire gets the least amount of funding from the Government than any other county in the UK. It gets overlooked, but it’s done really well for itself despite this. If we had the same opportunities as other counties, imagine what we could do!”
What could be improved in Leicester?
Transport “Like most cities, public transport is lacking. The only way to really get around is by
ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS I BECAME A COUNCILLOR WAS TO PROMOTE THE PLACE WHERE I LIVE
car. The city used to have trams, and I think we should consider this again. The outskirt villages such as Oadby aren’t getting the respect they deserve because of a lack of bus routes. Leicester is very city-centric, so the little villages and independent retailers need to be looked after; their shops compete with the centre and Fosse Park. We need to drive people to these villages with convenient transport options and free parking. Our infrastructure needs to turn our reliance away from the car, which will also help lower pollution levels.” The charity sector Leicester has such a wonderful collaborative business community, and I would like to see that collaboration system used by the charity sector to support one another. All charities are trying to raise money, but come up against hurdles when they both plan the same events or approach the same organisations. More cooperation would be beneficial in gaining funding. Keep up to date with Paul’s work on Facebook @pmhartshorn. NICHE | 35
