WHERE IS THE UK'S CAPITAL OF ENTERPRISE
(14 June 2006)

The West Kilbride Craft & Design Town, the Borough of Knowsley and the Kent Science Park are just some of the places announced today as exemplifying the UK's enterprise spirit, with the publication of the list of regional winners of the DTI's Enterprising Britain 2006 competition. The competition, which launched in January, is a key part of the Government's drive to increase entrepreneurship in the UK, and identifies areas of enterprise excellence: those places that have created jobs, brought communities together, and made a real difference to local businesses and local people.

Twelve projects have been shortlisted, representing each of the Regional Development Agencies and Devolved Administrations, and will compete against each other at the UK final in September, to become the national Enterprising Britain 2006 winner. The winner will then represent the UK in the European Enterprise Awards later this year.

Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Alistair Darling MP, said of the Enterprising Britain regional winners: "The twelve regional winners that have been chosen represent the great range of enterprise and innovation that is taking place in the UK. The Enterprising Britain competition is an excellent opportunity to celebrate some of the enterprise success stories that can help transform communities, and provide a real boost to their region's economy. The quality of these twelve projects illustrates why the UK continues to be one of the most enterprising places in the world."

National competition judge, Lynne Franks, entrepreneur and social enterprise ambassador added: "This competition is all about identifying those places that have brought communities together and made a real difference to local people and all the twelve regional winners do this excellently. It recognises people at a local level who pool resources and create sustainable positive change. The twelve projects really demonstrate the entrepreneurial spirit that exists in the UK."

The finalists have been recognised for their success in creating an all-inclusive strategy for enterprise. The projects have encouraged and supported enterprise within the UK and it is now up to an expert panel of national judges, who will be visiting the projects, to decide which one is the most enterprising place in the UK.

This year's finalists are:

• West Kilbride Craft & Design Town, nominated by Scottish Enterprise & Highland and Island Enterprise;
• The Glynneath Training Centre, nominated by Welsh Assembly Government;
• The Borough of Knowsley, nominated by North West Regional Development Agency;
• The City Fringe Partnership, nominated by London Development Agency;
• The Rotherham Partnership, nominated by Yorkshire Forward;
• Bowthorpe BizFizz, nominated by East of England Development Agency;
• Enterprising Burton, nominated by Advantage West Midlands;
• Kent Science Park, nominated by South East England Development Agency;
• Enterprising People Partnership, nominated by South West Regional Development Agency;
• Ballykeel Business Development Ltd, nominated by Invest Northern Ireland;
• Acumen Community Development Trust, nominated by One NorthEast;
• The Welland Sub-Regional Strategic Partnership, nominated by East Midland Development Agency.

Last year's winner, Sherwood Energy Village in Ollerton, is a scheme devised by the community of Ollerton, North Nottinghamshire, in response to the devastating social and economic impact of the colliery closure in 1994, and the subsequent closure of the town's textile factories. Supported by the East Midlands Development Agency, the project has helped to rebuild and diversify the economic base of the town so that it would never again be subject to widespread job losses due to the reliance on one particular market sector.