Learning and Development News

Beacons of British enterprise shine brightest in Europe

By TJ (22-11-2007)
0 Comments Comments
Article Rating:

Poor Best

Email to a friend | Print Version

Learning and Development News - Beacons of British enterprise shine brightest in Europe

Following on from their success in the national Enterprising Britain 2007 competition, North Staffordshire Regeneration Zone and The Paper Trail have been short-listed for this year's prestigious European Enterprise Awards – which, this year saw over 350 projects from across the continent coming forward.

North Staffordshire Regeneration Zone (NRSZ) and The Paper Trail will now compete with just 11 others in the finals of the Awards, which are being held in Porto, Portugal this December.  Both were also successful in the Enterprising Britain 2007competition.  The North Staffordshire Regeneration Zone, West Midlands, was crowned overall winner, with The Paper Trail, from the East of England, named as competition runner-up.

The North Staffordshire Regeneration Zone transformed the Potteries from the worst place in Britain to start a business into an economic hub of enterprise activity. Once home to great innovators and entrepreneurs such as Josiah Wedgewood, the past 30 years saw the area suffer a decline in its traditional industries.

In 2003, when Barclays labelled it the UK's worst, there were 38,000 unemployed and 2,000 businesses short of the national average. But NSRZ projects set up over the last six years have helped reverse this decline. Five hundred new businesses have started; over 1,000 new jobs have been created, with 21 sustainable social enterprises and more than 7,500 young people given the chance to run a business.

North Staffordshire Regeneration Zone has been nominated in the Enterprise Support Award section, along with entries from Luxembourg, Holland and Spain . They are further short-listed as a potential overall winner with entries from Belgium , Denmark, Estonia, France , Germany, Hungary and Italy .

This year's Enterprising Britain runner-up, The Paper Trail is converting a Victorian paper mill and disused industrial buildings into a unique heritage centre for education and innovation. By conserving part of the UK's heritage, the initiative has had a huge impact on the social and economic success of the local community. As well as housing over 26 start-up and small businesses employing over 70 people, the two centers have created 25 direct jobs. From its operating start in 2002, recycled paper production has increased by 65 per cent and at least 300 indirect employment opportunities have been created.

The Paper Trail, East of England has been nominated for the Enterprise Support Award, along with entries from Slovakia, Poland and Italy .

The European Enterprise Awards reward public initiatives supporting entrepreneurship. The jury, made up of European entrepreneurs, leading business organisations, academics and representatives of the European Commission and the Portuguese Presidency, will announce the winners at the Porto ceremony on 6 December 2007.

The winners of the event act as role models across the regions of Europe in how to create environments where entrepreneurs can flourish.

Image: Paper Trail 

Back to top | Latest news

 

Readers Comment

Comment on this story here >

Be the first to comment on this news story