Partner Article

Competition searches for UK’s most enterprising place

The Government has launched Enterprising Britain, a nationwide competition to find the most enterprising place in the UK.

Enterprising Britain will look for the town, city, place or area that is best improving economic prospects and encouraging enterprise, as well as the organisation which best promotes enterprise, and the organisation that has been most successful in encouraging businesses to export.

Run by BIS, the competition will be judged by an appointed panel of independent judges, and aims to share examples of best practice in enterprise policy, identify the UK entry to the European Enterprise Awards, and create awareness of enterprise and entrepreneurship.

Entrants will be judged across the three categories: most enterprising place, promoting enterprise, and encouraging exporting.

The top place will need to demonstrate support for a “dynamic enterprise culture for all” and providing role models to inspire other areas to be more enterprising.

For the organisation category, entrants need to demonstrate promotion of enterprise in young people, women, the unemployed and other disadvantaged communities; promoting the image of entrepreneurship, and encouraging an entrepreneurial culture through events and campaigns.

The best organisation in encouraging export will provide mentoring services that promotes exporting to smaller businesses, brokering and information to put small businesses in touch with potential clients, and also provision of support services that help SMEs go overseas to trade fairs or through missions.

Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk said: “There are some fantastic enterprises across the UK that are starting up and growing to become real forces in business.

“Despite the difficult economic conditions, there are many entrepreneurs willing and able to make their business a success, helping to boost the economic growth of their local area and the UK.

“We want to make 2012 the year of enterprise. This is a great opportunity for local authorities and businesses to come together and show that they are creating a vibrant environment to allow enterprise to thrive.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .