Spotlight on Business – James Burkmar and Leicester’s Creative Economy

This episode of Spotlight on Business on Soar Sound features James Burkmar, Workspace Development Manager at LCB Depot in Leicester. He reflects on his career journey, explains the growth of the creative economy, and shares how LCB Depot has become a hub for networks, events and collaboration. The discussion highlights the role of initiatives like Last Friday and the new Canopy development at Pilot House in supporting creative enterprises and strengthening Leicester’s identity as a centre for innovation and community.

The first edition of our new Spotlight on Business series on Soar Sound features a conversation with James Burkmar, Workspace Development Manager at LCB Depot in Leicester’s Cultural Quarter. James shared his story of how a varied career in music, community projects and business coaching eventually led him to support creative entrepreneurs and organisations at one of the city’s most important hubs.

James explained how the concept of the creative economy has grown beyond the official definition of “creative industries.” For him, creativity is woven into many sectors of work, from design and architecture to plumbing and software, wherever people solve problems in new and inventive ways. He highlighted Leicester’s history of Point of Sale design and how such cross-disciplinary skills continue to generate new opportunities for innovation.

The discussion explored the importance of building a scene rather than just a workspace. James described how networks such as Creative Coffee and Create Leicester have flourished at LCB Depot, helping practitioners connect across disciplines. He also emphasised how events like Last Friday have turned the Depot into a destination for the wider public, bringing together families, students, artists and businesses in a shared civic space.

A significant part of the conversation focused on the forthcoming launch of Canopy at Pilot House. This new development extends the reach of LCB Depot, offering additional workspaces while preserving the heritage of six historic buildings. With high occupancy levels already secured, Canopy promises to attract businesses from Leicester and beyond, strengthening the city’s creative infrastructure.

Asked about challenges and opportunities, James returned to the central theme of people. Whether facing rising costs, new technologies such as AI, or the day-to-day work of maintaining spaces, what keeps him motivated is seeing the potential of people and the connections that creativity makes possible. For James, the creative economy is not just about intellectual property or business growth, but about fostering places where ideas and communities thrive.

To experience this atmosphere yourself, James recommends visiting Last Friday at LCB Depot, held on the final Friday of each month, or exploring more at lcbdepot.co.uk. The podcast conversation is available now on Soar Sound.