Last chance for stars of UK enterprise to shine

With only weeks to go before the regional heats of Enterprising Britain 2008 close, enterprise hotspots from across the UK are being urged to get their entries in quickly.

Now in its fourth year, the Enterprising Britain competition shines a spotlight on areas of enterprise excellence from across the UK. Enterprising Britain is encouraging places that have helped transform the social and economic fortunes of their communities to enter. The national winner will be crowned the most enterprising places in the UK.

The competition, which was launched by Shriti Vadera, Minister for Business and Competitiveness for the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), is run by Make Your Mark on behalf of BERR and in close partnership with the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) and the Devolved Administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Launching the competition, Shriti Vadera said:

ìEnterprise, especially small businesses, start-ups and growing companies are the heart of the UKís economy. I support this grass-roots campaign, which identifies and celebrates the regions where enterprise has created jobs, brought communities together and made a real difference to local business and local people.î

Peter Jones, entrepreneur and Enterprising Britain 2008 judge, said:

ìAs an Enterprising Britain judge, I have been extremely impressed by the strength, determination and innovative thinking demonstrated by those people who have used enterprise to transform the social and economic fortunes of their community. The Enterprising Britain competition is a great chance for enterprise success stories from across the UK to shine - I am really looking forward to finding out what 2008 holds in store.î

Last yearís Enterprising Britain winner was the North Staffordshire Regeneration Zone, (NSRZ), an initiative that is helping to reverse the economic decline of the area formally known as the Potteries, by setting up various innovative enterprise initiatives. As well as supporting over 500 new start-up businesses, and helping to create more than 1,000 new jobs, NSRZ, set up numerous enterprise education projects, including a ìliveî fruit trading floor game for primary school students that teaches the basics of profit and loss.

Deadlines for entries range from the 18 April 2008 in Scotland and the South East to the 9 May 2008 in the East Midlands.

For more information about Enterprising Britain 2008, deadlines and how to enter, please visit: