Scarborough wins European Enterprise Jury prize

Scarborough Renaissance Partnership, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Formed in 2002, the Scarborough Renaissance Partnership has transformed the north-east England seaside town of Scarborough by pioneering renaissance – turning a seasonal economy with winter unemployment 50% higher than summer into a year-round economy with only a 10% difference between summer and winter employment. Some 100 jobs have been created through public investment, facilitating the creation of another 100 jobs in the private sector in the past two years. And the new entrepreneurial climate is set to boost employment in the next five years.

The 2008/2009 Grand Jury’s Prize went to the Scarborough Renaissance Partnership for its pioneering enterprise and cultural renaissance work in the Yorkshire seaside town of Scarborough in north-east England. The project was selected for its impressive results in tackling the issue of seasonal unemployment and developing a stead year-round economy with the active involvement of the local community. The result has been increased employment prospects, particular through the development of a business park and state-of-the-art centre for creative and cultural industries.

Further information:
www.scarborough.gov.uk

More than 350 national, regional and local authorities – including towns, cities and regions as well as public-private partnerships between public authorities and entrepreneurs, educational programmes and business organisations – in 25 countries competed in the national round of the 2008/2009 European Enterprise Awards. The jury considered 47 final nominees representing a wide variety of projects that are successful in facilitating business and supporting entrepreneurship across Europe. The winners were announced at a ceremony in Prague that was part of the closing event for the First European SME week

The other awarded projects
Entrepreneurship Promotion Award: Instituto IDEAS, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (UPV), Valencia, Spain;
Red Tape Reduction Award: ANTI-BUREAU Miskolc Holding Zrt., Miskolc, Hungary;
Enterprise Development Award: Gothia Science Park Enterprise and Community Building Sector, Municipality of Skövde, Sweden;
Investment in Skills Award: Knowledge, skills, support – from entrepreneur to entrepreneur The Women’s Enterprise Agency Helsinki, Finland;
Responsible and Inclusive Entrepreneurship Award: Getting people into work The Waldkirch Employment and Qualification Company (WABE) Waldkirch, Germany.

Photo by sonofgroucho_s (flickr)

AER/Expatica 2009