West Kilbride Craft and Design town named UKís Capital of Enterprise

West Kilbride Craft and Design Town in Scotland has today been named as the UKís capital of enterprise, as the winner of the DTIís Enterprising Britain 2006 competition. The competition, which launched in January, is a key part of the Governmentís 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.

Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Alistair Darling MP, said:

ìAll of the finalists showed why the UK is such an enterprising place, but West Kilbride stood out as a fantastic example of just what can happen when enterprise is put at the heart of the community. West Kilbride has embraced a real ëcan doí attitude to successfully regenerate its town centre, helping to transform the whole community. The Craft and Design Town is an excellent example of our national enterprise spirit, and a worthy winner of Enterprising Britain 2006.î

Faced with above average unemployment, a town centre blighted by empty and unkempt shops, West Kilbride has transformed itself over the last few years into a thriving community and Scotlandís first Craft and Design Town. Using a specialised theme to revitalise itself ñ that of craft and design - the project has encouraged enterprise to flourish by providing affordable studio accommodation for designer makers, and redeveloping the town centre as a focus for niche retailing, conserving and enhancing local architecture and attracting visitors to the town.

The project has already led to the creation of five studios, a shop, a gallery, and attracted 14 new businesses to the town. This has created 24 direct jobs in the small community of West Kilbride, as well as generating indirect jobs in industries such as tourism and catering in the surrounding area. The Enterprising Britain judges were particularly impressed with the strong sense of team spirit and local involvement surrounding the project; the emphasis on sustainability, including good use of brown-field sites; and the fact that the project found its unique selling point right from the start.

The Welland Sub-Regional Strategic Partnership in the East Midlands, which has worked to turn 1000 miles of rural countryside into a strong, economically viable area through a diverse strategy of innovation and entrepreneurship was the Enterprising Britain 2006 Runner Up. They, along with West Kilbride, will represent the UK in the European Enterprise Awards later this year. Ballykeel Business Centre in Northern Ireland, Knowsley Economic Forum in the North West and The Rotherham Partnership in Yorkshire were also Highly Commended.

National competition judge, Lynne Franks, entrepreneur and social enterprise ambassador added:

ìThis competition is all about identifying those places that have brought communities together and made a real difference to local people and West Kilbride did that perfectly. Enterprising Britain recognises people at a local level who pool resources and create sustainable positive change, and all of the finalists really demonstrated the entrepreneurial spirit that exists in the UK.î

Twelve projects, representing each of the Regional Development Agencies and Devolved Administrations, were shortlisted for the award in June, and visited by the Enterprising Britain judges over the summer. The judging panel consisted of David Grayson CBE, a social entrepreneur with a long involvement in enterprise promotion; Jonathan Bland, the Chief Executive of the Social Enterprise Coalition; Stan Crawford, Managing Director of Sherwood Energy Village, Enterprising Britain 2005 Winner; Sue Brownson OBE, Managing Director of Blue Bell BMW Ltd; Lynne Franks, author, business woman and lifestyle guru; and Kevin Steele, Chief Executive of Enterprise Insight.

For further information about the Enterprising Britain competition, visit www.sbs.gov.uk/enterprisingbritain