Enterprising Britain 2009 launched

Today marks the launch of the 2009 search for the most enterprising place in Britain.

The competition run by Make Your Mark for the Department for Business sets out to find the town, city, village or location that is forging ahead with innovation, creating new jobs and encouraging entrepreneurship.

Last year Scarborough won the competition, thanks in part to a coalition of local businesses, councillors and residents who formed the Scarborough Renaissance Partnership which helped to transform the fortunes of the seaside town.

The Partnership attracted over £200 million of private sector investment to the area, helped to create a local start-up boom, regenerated the harbour and helped move the town forward positively as the fishing industry declined.

Here at SmallBizPod we’ve always believed job creation and the regeneration of local economies is a fundamental benefit of a more entrepreneurial society.

Projects like the Inner City 100 awards which recognised successful businesses in deprived city areas a few years ago, began raising the profile of this subject.

It’s good to see Enteprising Britain continuing that tradition.

As Peter Mandelson said at the launch today:

Enterprise is a long-term investment for the future and crucial for success in the current economic climate. In a downturn, it is more important than ever that entrepreneurs are supported and have the confidence they need to develop their ideas.

The competition is free to enter and forms are available from Regional Development Agencies, from equivalent devolved authorities or downloadable from http://www.enterprisingbritain.org/.

All entries need to be completed and returned by 30 April 2009.

[Picture: MaryCB licenced from Flickr]