DEPARTMENT FOR
BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM News Release (2007/121)
issued by The Government News Network on 7 December 2007
Winner of the
Enterprising Britain competition, North Staffordshire Regeneration
Zone (NSRZ) and Enterprising Britain runner-up, The Paper Trail,
are celebrating again today following the European Enterprise Awards.
NSRZ was crowned the runner-up in the Enterprise Support
category, while The Paper Trail was announced as the runner-up in
the Responsible Entrepreneurship category at the awards ceremony,
which took place in Portugal. The projects beat off competition
from over 350 entrants across Europe.
Now in its second year, The European Enterprise Awards recognise
outstanding initiatives that support entrepreneurship at a
regional level. The awards are inspired by the Department for
Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform's (BERR)
successful Enterprising Britain competition, which celebrates and
rewards the most enterprising places in the UK.
Welcoming the news, Stephen Timms, Enterprise Minister, said:
"North Staffordshire Regeneration Zone and The Paper Trail
are fantastic examples of British enterprise and thoroughly
deserves this recognition. By adopting a positive "can
do" approach to local enterprise and regeneration, both
initiatives have helped to transform the social and economic
prospects of their areas. I congratulate the teams behind the
projects wholeheartedly."
North Staffordshire Regeneration Zone, which covers the urban
core of Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-Under-Lyme, was recognised
for successfully transforming one of the most deprived areas in
Britain into an economic hub of enterprise activity.
Following a massive decline in their traditional industries,
North Staffordshire was branded by Barclays in 2003 as the
'worst place in England to start a business'. Since
then, the various projects set-up by NSRZ have helped to reverse
the decline by encouraging and supporting over 500 new start-up
businesses and helping to create more than 1,000 new jobs.
NSRZ has created 21 sustainable social enterprises in North
Staffordshire schools, giving over 7,500 young people the
opportunity to run a real business. One example of a school-based
business is The Mitchell Juice bar, an enterprise that was set up
in Mitchell High School with a £12,000 funding grant from NSRZ.
The students run all aspects of the business and all profits are
ploughed back into the enterprise.
Commenting on the North Staffordshire Regeneration Zone's
success, James Murray Wells, founder of Glassesdirect and
Enterprising Britain 2007 national judge, said:
"The grass roots transformation of North Staffordshire is
inspirational. The achievements of the North Staffordshire
Regeneration Zone illustrate what can be achieved if a community
works together to improve their local economy. Their business
model is excellent and I am sure their success will inspire other
deprived areas and communities from across Europe for years to come."
The Paper Trail, a unique enterprise initiative that has
converted a Victorian paper mill and disused industrial buildings
into a self-financing centre for education and innovation, was
recognised for bringing social and economic success to the local community.
The Paper Trail offers a wide range of income generating
activities, including recycled paper making, conference
facilities, schools' enterprise projects and training
courses. Since it was first established in 2002, the initiative
has housed over 26 start-up and small businesses, created at least
300 indirect employment opportunities and helped local recycled
paper production to increase by 65 per cent.
Commenting on The Paper Trail's success, Sue Brownson,
Managing Director of Blue Bell BMW and Enterprising Britain 2007
national judge, said:
"When I visited the Paper Trail, as part of the national
judging this year, I was greatly impressed by what has been done
so far. The Paper Trail is a well managed community-led enterprise
project, and has optimised every aspect of its assets; the
buildings, heritage paper making equipment and staff skills. By
transforming disused industrial buildings into a flourishing
education, business and heritage centre, The Paper Trail has
benefited the whole community. It is a truly inspirational project
and I am delighted that it has received the recognition it
deserves by being named runner-up in the Responsible
Entrepreneurship category in the European Enterprise Awards."
Jacky Bennett, Chief Executive at The Paper Trail, said:
"Being named runner-up of the Responsible Entrepreneurship
Award at the European Enterprise Awards means the world to us. We
have worked extremely hard over the last six years to make The
Paper Trail the success it is today and I am really proud of
everyone involved. Hopefully, this achievement will help raise the
profile of The Paper Trail further, so that we can continue to act
as a role model for other communities and regions from across Europe.'
James Capper, Enterprise and Innovation Strategy Manager, North
Staffordshire Regeneration Zone, said:
"Being recognised in the European Enterprise Awards is an
incredible achievement and I am overjoyed that the hard work of
the community has been rewarded. We will take this accolade back
to North Staffordshire and continue to improve the community
through enterprise, and hopefully, we can now share our experience
with other areas."
For further information on the European Enterprise Awards please
visit http://www.european-enterprise-awards.org/
or contact Nicola Green or Emma Cowlard at Geronimo Communications
on 020 7299 8764 / 07863 543 951
emma.cowlard@geronimocommunications.com For further information on
the Enterprising Britain competition please visit http://www.enterprisingbritain.org
or contact Nicola Green or Emma Cowlard at Geronimo Communications
on 020 7299 8764 / 07863 543 951 emma.cowlard@geronimocommunications.com
For further information on the involvement of the Regional
Development Agencies (RDAs) in Enterprising Britain, contact
Alison Culshaw at the RDA Secretariat; Tel 020 7654 1552; alison.culshaw@rda-secretariat.com
Notes to Editors
* The European Enterprise Awards are inspired by the Enterprising
Britain Competition, and aim to reward local and regional
initiatives that are improving business prospects. The Awards are
open to the 25 Member States of the European Union as well as
Bulgaria, Iceland, Norway, Romania and Turkey
* The overall winner and runner-up of Enterprising Britain 2007
were entered into a Europe-wide competition - the 'European
Enterprise Awards' http://www.european-enterprise-awards.org/
* Enterprising Britain is a nationwide competition that
celebrates and recognises enterprise achievement throughout all
the regions of the UK. For more information please visit http://www.enterprisingbritain.org
* The Enterprising Britain 2007 winner was North Staffordshire
Regeneration Zone (http://www.nsrz.org) and the
runner-up was The Paper Trail http://www.thepapertrail.org.uk
* The Enterprising Britain 2006 winner was West Kilbride Craft
& Design Town. For more information go to http://www.westkilbride.org.uk.
* The Enterprising Britain 2005 winner was Sherwood Energy
Village, Ollerton. For more information go to http://www.sherwoodenergyvillage.co.uk
* The competition runs nationally across England, Scotland, Wales
and Northern Ireland and operates in two stages: a regional
nomination stage and a national competition between the regional finalists
* The regional heats for the competition ran from 31 January to
31 May 2007. The 12 regional winners were visited by members of
the judging panel over the summer
* The competition is open to towns, cities and communities as
well as public-private partnerships between public authorities and
entrepreneurs, educational programmes and business organisations
* The selected town, city or area must be able to demonstrate how
it has affected a step change in its approach towards supporting
& promoting enterprise over the last three years. The national
nominations are based on how the nominated place has demonstrated:
- that it has faced the challenges of promoting enterprise in
their areas;
- that it has formed partnerships and policies to tackle those
challenges; and,
- that its actions have had a positive impact in promoting enterprise.