Leicestershire case studiesLeicestershire’s Economy as a Business Classroom
Examiners reward students who apply theory to real businesses. The county has clear examples across a global snack maker, a large county budget and local government reorganisation, and we use them in lessons.
Pricing & demandWalkers’ £58m plant investment
The Business Desk reported on 5 June 2023 that PepsiCo planned a £58m investment in the Walkers plant in Leicester, creating up to 100 new jobs on top of 1,120 staff, 8.9% more by our arithmetic. It buys a new production line for Wotsits and Monster Munch, a move of Giants production from Europe, ovens powered by renewable electricity and refurbished staff facilities. The article estimates 915 tonnes a year fewer transport emissions and 56 tonnes a year less virgin plastic. No output or factory size was given, and Giants production was due when construction completed in 2024.
Why might a firm spend £58m to make products in Leicester that it had made in Europe, and what would you need to know to judge whether it works? Practise this in AO2 Application.
Interpreting numbersLeicestershire County Council’s 2026/27 budget
The council approved its budget on 18 February 2026 with a 2.99% council tax rise, 97p more a week on Band D from April, or about £50 a year by our arithmetic. It plans £48m of savings, of which an efficiency review has identified £4.5m so far. It projects an £85m funding gap by 2030 and a £15m shortfall next year to be covered from reserves. Social care is the main part of a £127m extra investment in services. The page gives no total budget.
Why might a council take a smaller rise than the maximum and cover a £15m gap from reserves, and what would you want to check? Step by step in AO3 Analysis.
Strategy & stakeholdersReorganising Leicestershire’s councils
On 16 July 2026 the government announced that from April 2028 two unitary councils will replace the ten existing councils, after considering three proposals. One covers Leicester, Oadby and Wigston and parts of Blaby, Charnwood and Harborough, and the other covers the rest of Leicestershire and Rutland. Melton Borough Council says all of its borough falls in the second and that it stays responsible for services for the next 21 months. Its page says residents need take no action now and doesn’t mention elections.
When a decision splits districts between two new councils, what should employers, suppliers and residents do now, and who gains or loses? A real judgement for AO4 Evaluation.
Sources: The Business Desk, 5 June 2023; Leicestershire County Council, budget news, 18 February 2026; Melton Borough Council, news on the government’s decision of 16 July 2026. The 8.9% and £50 figures are our arithmetic. The Walkers article is from 2023, the budget page gives no total and the reorganisation account is one council’s own.
