Now it’s official: Birmingham the most enterprising place in Britain
Birmingham has been named the ‘Most Enterprising Place in Britain’ in a Government-sponsored competition.
The winning project in the 2016 Enterprising Britain Awards saw Birmingham city council team up with six Local Enterprise Partnerships to improve confidence, encourage investment, and attract and retain business talent.
It supported 1,000 businesses, generating £87 million in private sector investment and creating or safeguarding 4,300 jobs, as part of the Midlands Engine for Growth initiative.
Companies to benefit from the project include Westfield Sports Cars which accelerated production of a new prototype vehicle and Induction Technology Group which invested in new manufacturing equipment, leading to an increase in global sales.
City council leader John Clancy welcomed the award:
Birmingham is fantastic place to do business and this award shows that when we work together and invest in people, the city really can thrive.
In partnership with the LEPs, the Business Support Package has been a huge success and it’s so rewarding to see businesses playing their part in boosting the city economy and that of the wider region.
We’re supporting Birmingham’s natural creativity and entrepreneurial drive to create jobs, improve skills and give people across the city the opportunities they need and deserve.
Saqbi Bhatti, board director, Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP said:
There is a great entrepreneurial spirit that exists within Greater Birmingham and Solihull and this programme has helped to provide the necessary conditions to improve entrepreneurial confidence, encourage investment and stimulate economic growth.
Small Business Minister, Margot James said:
We have 900,000 more small businesses than in 2010 and they have an important role to play in building an economy that works for all. It’s great to see the support available for business owners making a real difference and driving entrepreneurial spirit across the UK.
These awards recognise the value of local support and show what can be achieved when people who know their community best make their own decisions.
Run by Investment in Young People (IiYP), on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Enterprising Britain awards celebrate local initiatives which boost business and growth.
Liverpool John Moores University, the Borough of Broxbourne Council and Kent International Business also won awards for building enterprise skills, promoting entrepreneurial spirit and supporting exports, respectively.
Birmingham city council and Liverpool John Moores University will now go forward as the UK entries to the European Enterprise Promotion Awards.
The four category winners are:
Improving the business environment
Winner – Birmingham City Council’s Business Support Package
Birmingham City Council brought together and worked with the six West Midlands Local Enterprise Partnerships to create the conditions to improve entrepreneurial confidence, encourage investment, and attract and retain entrepreneurs to create new job opportunities. Their overall strategy is aligned to the West Midlands Combined Authority and Midlands Engine for Growth.
Building enterprise skills
Winner – Liverpool John Moores University – Enterprise Educators Academy
The Academy has been created to enable Academic staff from the university to embed enterprise competency model in all disciplines, so academics could become “Enterprise Educators”, developing enterprise skills, embedding enterprise in all curriculum and inspiring the students to action.
Promoting entrepreneurial spirit
Winner – Borough of Broxbourne Council
Ambition Broxbourne has been developed by the Borough Council as a brand, strategy and mantra to galvanise local and strategic partners. The aim was to create a common vision and delivery plan for creating sustainable employment (6,300 new jobs by 2030) in order to rebalance the economy towards higher paid jobs within the life sciences and creative sector.
Support for exporting
Winner – Kent International Business
Kent International Business (KIB) is an umbrella programme bringing together support services, initiatives and projects which aim to help Kent-based companies export and access overseas business opportunities.
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