GALLERY NEWS
News Article
Thu 1st June 2006
West Kilbride Craft Town is Most Enterprising Place in Scotland
West Kilbride Craft & Design Town has been voted the most enterprising place in Scotland.
In a stunning result the town has won the top prize in the Scottish heat of The Department of Trade & Industry's Enterprising Britain 2006 competition. Instigated by the Chancellor Gordon Brown, it is an annual contest to celebrate towns, cities or areas that are encouraging enterprise.
The Scottish heat organised by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands & Islands Enterprise was launched in January with nominees for the award from Banff to the Borders. Despite strong opposite from eight other candidates, West Kilbride Craft & Design Town will represent Scotland in the UK final in September.
West Kilbride Craft & Design Town has been voted the most enterprising place in Scotland.
In a stunning result the town has won the top prize in the Scottish heat of The Department of Trade & Industry's Enterprising Britain 2006 competition. Instigated by the Chancellor Gordon Brown, it is an annual contest to celebrate towns, cities or areas that are encouraging enterprise.
The Scottish heat, organised by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands & Islands Enterprise, was launched in January with nominees for the award from Banff to the Borders. Despite strong opposite from eight other candidates, West Kilbride Craft & Design Town will represent Scotland in the UK final in September.
At a ceremony in the Glasgow Menzies Hotel, Councillor Elizabeth McLardy, Chair of West Kilbride Community Initiative Ltd and Maggie M. Broadley, Craft & Design Development Officer for the project, were presented with their award by Terry Currie, Senior Director of Growing Business at Scottish Enterprise,
Accepting the trophy on behalf of West Kilbride Craft & Design Town, Councillor Elizabeth McLardy said, "We are delighted to receive this award - it is an absolute joy that all the hard work of those involved in the project has been recognised in this way.
Maggie Broadley, Craft & Design Development Officer feels privileged to be involved in an enterprise that places craft at the heart of a community, to the benefit of both crafters and local residents.
Senior Director of Growing Business at Scottish Enterprise, Terry Curry presented the winners with their award.
He said, "We are delighted to name West Kilbride Craft & Design Town as Scotland"s most enterprising place. This project demonstrates what a small community can do for itself. It has brought real value to the area as well as bringing in new jobs and revitalising the area."
"This is a really exciting project and we are confident that West Kilbride Craft & Design Town is a strong contender to also achieve the national award."
Enterprising Britain is a key part of the Governments drive to increase rates of entrepreneurial activity in the UK. The 2005 winner was Sherwood Energy Village, Ollerton. (See www.sherwoodinformationvillage.co.uk
Candidates need to demonstrate that they have affected a significant and positive change in their approach towards supporting and promoting enterprise in the last two years. They have to show they have created jobs, brought communities together, and made a real difference to local businesses and local people.