LBV

What LBV does

LBV (Leicestershire Business Voice) is a non-profit business membership organisation based in Leicester, UK, operating in the East Midlands since approximately 2000. It serves businesses across the Leicester and Leicestershire region, welcoming members from all sectors and sizes, from sole traders to established enterprises. Its core function is convening the local business community through monthly lunchtime and after-work events, themed programmes (the Super Six Series covering Digital Practices, Sustainability, Diversity, Business Resilience, Talent Development, and Social Impact), subsidised training partnerships (Help to Grow: Management with the University of Leicester and De Montfort University), a Graduate Internship Programme, and an Ambassador Programme of senior business advocates. LBV also engages directly with local authorities, MPs, universities, and business support bodies to influence regional economic policy.

The organisation's revenue is generated almost exclusively through annual membership subscriptions, tiered at £125 (sole trader), £150 (1-9 employees) and £300 (10+ employees), with over 100 active members. Its technology footprint is conventional: a WordPress website hosted on WP Engine and managed by Cite DMS, with Google Analytics and Campaign Monitor for analytics and email. The entity is a private limited company (Company No. 4287002) controlled by a Board of Directors drawn from the membership, with no parent company, no external funding, and no equity investors. LBV has no proprietary technology, patents, or AI/ML capabilities, and the competitive position rests on local network effects, established stakeholder access, and brand credibility rather than technology differentiation.

Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: prospective members apply through the website, are recruited through member referrals and ambassador advocacy, and engage primarily through in-person events at member venues, university partners, and external locations. The organisation is governed by a Board chaired by Sue Tilley, with Director Neil McGhee sitting on the LLEP main board, extending LBV's influence over the regional business support ecosystem. Growth is constrained to the Leicester and Leicestershire catchment, with no indication of geographic expansion beyond the East Midlands.

Name

LBV

Legal name

Leicestershire Business Voice

Website

https://lbv.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

LBV (Leicestershire Business Voice) is a non-profit business membership organisation based in Leicester, UK, that convenes over 100 member businesses across all sectors through monthly events, themed programmes, training partnerships, and policy advocacy within the East Midlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Leicester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: LBV generates revenue through annual membership subscriptions with tiered pricing based on company size. Membership provides access to events, briefings, newsletters, networking opportunities, and member recognition through LBV communication channels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

LBV is a non-profit business membership organisation that provides Leicestershire businesses with annual membership subscriptions granting access to networking events, policy advocacy, business intelligence, and member recognition. It delivers a structured events programme (Super Six Series), leadership training in partnership with local universities, graduate internship pathways, and an Ambassador network that champions the local business community.

Product overview

LBV (Leicestershire Business Voice) is a business membership organization, not a technology product company. It offers membership services, networking events, training programmes, and advocacy for businesses in the Leicester and Leicestershire region. The organization provides a platform for business networking through events like the Super Six Series, leadership training through the Help to Grow: Management programme, graduate talent programmes, and an ambassador advocacy programme. These are organizational services, not technology products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Super Six Series: An innovative programme addressing six critical business pillars: Digital Practices, Sustainability, Diversity, Business Resilience, Talent Development, and Social Impact.

Products and services

• LBV Business Membership
• Super Six Series
• Help to Grow: Management
• Graduate Internship Programme
• LBV Ambassador Programme

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 active members and growing from a starting point of 50 in 2021
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Leicestershire Business and Skills Partnership (LLBSP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLBV works closely with LLBSP as a key stakeholder, contributing to skills and business development initiatives across the region.
• East Midlands ChambercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEast Midlands Chamber is listed as a key stakeholder enabler, providing business support services and growth initiatives that complement LBV's activities.
• Institute of Directors (East Midlands)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLBV collaborates with the Institute of Directors East Midlands region as part of its stakeholder network.
• Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFSB is listed as a key stakeholder, with LBV promoting FSB research initiatives and collaborating on small business support.
• Leicester City Council / Mayor's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLBV works with the Mayor's Office and Leicester City Council to influence local economic policy and business support decisions.
• Leicestershire County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLBV maintains strong relationships with Leicestershire County Council for political engagement on business issues, identified as a priority relationship.
• District and Borough CouncilscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLBV engages with all District and Borough Councils across Leicestershire on local business policy matters.
• University of LeicestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Leicester is a key academic stakeholder providing research, talent, and business support. LBV partners with the University for events including Help to Grow: Management courses.
• De Montfort UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDe Montfort University (DMU) is a key partner, with LBV collaborating on leadership training programmes including Help to Grow: Management at Leicester Castle Business School.
• Loughborough UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLoughborough University partners with LBV for transport connectivity events and hosts the Super Six Series programme. LBV Director Neil McGhee serves on the main board of LLEP.
• Universities PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLBV partners with the Universities Partnership to deliver the Super Six Series programme covering six critical business pillars: Digital Practices, Sustainability, Diversity, Business Resilience, Talent Development, and Social Impact.
• Further Education CollegesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal further education colleges are listed as stakeholders contributing to skills development and the LBV ecosystem.
• Local MPscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLBV engages with local MPs to influence national policy affecting Leicestershire businesses.
• Business Gateway Growth HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLBV directs members to Business Gateway Growth Hub for business support and finance options, working to shape the local business support landscape.
• Barclays Eagle LabsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a business support partner providing free activities and resources for business growth and scale-ups.
• NatWestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNatWest provides free activities and resources for SMEs through the Business Gateway partnership, focusing on business growth and scale-ups.
• MicrosoftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMicrosoft provides training and expert support for SMEs through the LLEP initiative to maximise use of Microsoft technologies.
• LEBC (Leicestershire Education Business Company)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEBC partners with LBV for events including the Changing Face of Employment fireside chat and networking event.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CBI (Confederation of British Industry): Major UK business membership and lobbying organisation offering events, networking and policy influence across regions. Competes with LBV for senior business-leader engagement and policy voice, but at a national scale.
• British Chambers of Commerce: National umbrella network of accredited chambers of commerce providing business support, training, export services and policy advocacy. Operates the same membership/advocacy model as LBV at significantly larger scale.
• Leicester & Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP): Local enterprise partnership supporting business growth and skills across Leicestershire. Multiple LBV directors sit on LLEP boards, and LLEP is a core local partner/competitor for member engagement and policy influence.

Others

• Leicestershire Education Business Company (LEBC): Charity connecting education and local businesses via skills and employability programmes. LBV Chair Sue Tilley is an LEBC trustee and the two organisations co-host events, making LEBC a complementary ecosystem partner.
• Help to Grow: Management Course: Government-backed 12-week leadership and management training programme delivered with UK universities including University of Leicester and De Montfort University. LBV co-delivers this course, making it both a programme partner and an adjacent SME-support offering.

Direct peers

• Business Gateway Growth Hub: Local growth hub providing business support, advice and finance referrals across Leicestershire. LBV directs members to Business Gateway, making it a complementary rather than competing service but serving overlapping SME needs.
• Federation of Small Businesses (FSB): UK-wide membership organisation offering small businesses networking, advice, lobbying and member services. Listed as a core LBV partner; competes for the same SME members with a much larger national footprint.
• Institute of Directors (IoD): UK professional membership body for company directors offering events, networking, policy influence and director development. LBV collaborates with the IoD East Midlands region and serves an overlapping business-leader persona.
• East Midlands Chamber: Regional chamber of commerce providing membership, networking, training and policy advocacy for businesses across the East Midlands, including Leicestershire. Listed as a key stakeholder partner of LBV and operates in the same regional business support category.

Regional players

• Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce: Regional chamber of commerce providing business membership, events, training and policy advocacy in the West Midlands. Comparable model to LBV but operating in an adjacent, non-overlapping region.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LBVtweets
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/leicestershirebusinessvoice

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LBV