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Seaside resort beats Helsinki and Valencia

The reigning champion of the Enterprising Britain competition, Scarborough, is celebrating again after being named the most enterprising place in Europe at this year’s European Enterprise Awards. Run by the European Commission, the Awards saw Scarborough take the Grand Jury Prize, making it the overall winner, and in the jury’s view, the most creative and inspiring entrepreneurship initiative in Europe.

The seaside town was up against the best of European enterprise, including Finland’s capital city, Helsinki; Spain’s second biggest port, Valencia; and Liege in Belgium, known for its beer, chocolate and water exports.

Part of European SME Week, which ran from 6-14 May 2009, the European Enterprise Awards recognise outstanding initiatives that support enterprise and entrepreneurship. The awards are inspired by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform’s (BERR) Enterprising Britain competition, which celebrates and rewards the most enterprising places in the UK.

Secretary of State for Business Minister, Lord Mandelson, said: “A strong enterprise culture inspires communities and creates jobs - something which is vital during these uncertain economic times. “I would therefore like to congratulate the Scarborough Renaissance Partnership on their success and in being recognised not just as the most enterprising place in UK but in Europe”.

Scarborough’s winning bid was led by the Scarborough Renaissance Partnership, a coalition of local entrepreneurs, Scarborough Borough Council staff and residents, which transformed what was a seaside resort in decline into a thriving enterprise hotspot. Achievements include stamping out seasonal unemployment, diversifying to grow new industry sectors and attracting more than £200m of private sector investment.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .