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23rd May 2008 For immediate release PRESS RELEASE Leicester North West Alchemy selected as ambassador for enterprise
Leicester North West Alchemy has been recognised for its achievements in enterprise, after gaining a place in the prestigious East Midlands Enterprising Britain competition final. Leicester North West Alchemy was selected by the Leicester Shire Sub-Regional Strategic Partnership to represent the Leicestershire area. The regional final recently took place at the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and the judges commended Leicester North West Alchemy for proactively sourcing ways to tackle problems within the local community, by providing training and education to the public, in enterprise related subjects such as financial literacy and running a business. The judges included Stan Crawford OBE, Chief Executive of Sherwood Energy Village, 2005 national Enterprising Britain winner and emda board member; Rachel Elnaugh, ex-dragon from BBC Dragons’ Den, local entrepreneur and business speaker; and Amanda Woolley, Business Editor for Business East Midlands and Property East Midlands magazines. Commenting on the success of the Alchemy, Stan Crawford said: “The judges were impressed by the fact that this organisation did not stop at the physical regeneration of their area but went on to provide all sorts of opportunities for the community through the use of many volunteers and an impressive network of agencies.” Amanda Woolley added: “This is a truly community-led and focused group, supporting local residents and helping to build greater individual and business aspirations in the Leicester North West area. The work they have already achieved is highly commendable.”
Leicester North West Alchemy consists of a number of projects which work with local partners, schools and businesses, these projects are designed to tackle issues in the local community. For example, it promotes education and training to the public in subjects relating to enterprise, financial literacy, business skills and entrepreneurship in order to provide a positive environment for the growth of the local economy. Residents within the community have set a great example to others by working selflessly and collaboratively in order to tackle problems affecting the local area such as worklessness, high levels of anti-social behaviour and low educational attainments. The work of Leicester North West Alchemy has resulted in a positive impact in the community. Six individual businesses and two social enterprises have been formed, 12 women have been placed in construction apprenticeships, 50 extended work placements have been brokered and an Enterprise in Education Steering Group has been established. The Alchemy was up against strong competition from across the region, including BioCity (2008 regional winner); Ashfield Skills Centre; Derby-based Jobs, Education and Training (JET); The Welland Market Towns Group; and Lincolnshire Extreme Sports Association. Andrew Morgan, emda’s Skills and Communities Director, said: “Leicester North West Alchemy should be recognised for stepping forward to showcase their work and on behalf of emda, I would like to congratulate those involved for their efforts in reaching this stage of the competition. “I wish the Alchemy all the best for the future and hope that such enterprising ambassadors spur on others to take the plunge and set up innovative initiatives to further strengthen the enterprise culture in the East Midlands for generations to come.” -Ends-
For more information about the competition or for photographs contact Jennifer Delaney at The Marketing Division on 0115 9847021, or e-mail jennifer.delaney@themarketingdivision.co.uk.
Notes to Editors: Details of finalists in the East Midlands heat of the Enterprising Britain 2008 competition: Ashfield Skills Centre Representing North Derbyshire & North Nottinghamshire (Alliance Sub-regional Strategic Partnership) Ashfield Skills Centre is a fully comprehensive 11-19 secondary school with Technology, Language and Vocational College and Training School Status. The £5.3m project was selected as the sub-region’s entry because of its unique approach to fostering entrepreneurship among students and the wider community, the strength of its links with industrial and commercial partners and the synergy that has been achieved between the school and a broad range of public and private sector partners. BioCity Representing Nottingham (Greater Nottingham Partnership) BioCity is the largest, most successful bioscience business incubator in Europe; it is home to 50 companies and employees of over 450 people. Since inception the companies at BioCity have raised over £25 million of investment. At least half of which is spent on employment costs, which in turn is spent in the local economy, supporting the success of local businesses. Jobs, Education and Training: JET Representing Derby (Derby & Derbyshire Economic Partnership) The JET project provides education and training to one of the most deprived areas in Derby including three wards ranked within the top 10% on the index of deprivation. Since their formation in 2002 they have run many projects to target the hardest to reach learners. For example, in the last six months they have run three Jobcentre Plus projects creating over 20 jobs and have had over 1000 learners through their doors within the last twelve months.
The Welland Market Towns Group (WMTG) Representing The Welland (Welland SSP) WMTG is an informal network of 14 market towns in the Welland sub region. This is an area comprising four districts and one unitary authority, cutting across county boundaries, whose major settlements are all market towns. Through joint working the towns have developed an innovative benchmarking product to help communities understand how their town centre is performing compared to others on a range of issues. For example, in Stamford, 7 empty properties have been brought back into economic use creating 7 separate businesses. Leicester North West Alchemy Representing Leicestershire (Leicester Shire Economic Partnership) Leicester North West Alchemy is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee to advance the education of the public in subjects relating to enterprise, financial literacy, marketing, personal skills, social interaction, running a business, business skills and entrepreneurship in order to provide a positive environment for the growth of the local economy. The work of Leicester North West Alchemy has helped to achieve six new individual businesses, two social enterprises, and the placement of 12 women in construction apprenticeships. Lincolnshire Extreme Sports Association (LESA) Representing Lincolnshire (Lincolnshire Enterprise) LESA was formed in October 2000 to promote and regenerate Skegness and the County of Lincolnshire by developing facilities for recreation and leisure in the interest of social welfare, health and economic prosperity and with the object of improving the conditions within the community. The facility now offers a unique range of sporting opportunities for the whole community and it has played a major part in the regeneration of the area leading to a reported reduction in crime and the creation of employment opportunities.
Note: There was no nomination from Northamptonshire.
About the Enterprising Britain competition
Enterprising Britain is run by Make Your Mark on behalf of the Department for Business Enterprise Regulatory Reform (BERR), and in partnership with the East Midlands Development Agency (emda). For more information please visit www.enterprisingbritain.org.uk Enterprising Britain is a nationwide competition that celebrates and recognises enterprise achievement throughout all the regions of the UK; those places of enterprise excellence that have helped transform the social and economic fortunes of their area Enterprising Britain is open to all places (in the UK) that can demonstrate how they have transformed the community through enterprise in the last two years. All entrants must represent an identifiable geographic area, such as a town, a city, a parish or neighborhood and be able to demonstrate that enterprise is central to the economic and or social transformation of the place. 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 run from 18 February 2008 to 31 May 2008. The 12 regional winners will be visited by members of the judging panel over the summer. The Enterprising Britain 2007 winner was North Staffordshire Regeneration Zone (www.nsrz.org) and the runner-up was The Paper Trail www.thepapertrail.org.uk The Enterprising Britain 2006 winner was West Kilbride Craft & Design Town. For more information go to www.westkilbride.org.uk The Enterprising Britain 2005 winner was Sherwood Energy Village, Ollerton. For more information go to www.sherwoodenergyvillage.co.uk 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/ 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 About emda • East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in England, set up in 1999 to bring a regional focus to economic development. • Working in partnership with public, private and voluntary organisations the aim is to deliver the 2006 Regional Economic Strategy (RES) ‘A Flourishing Region’, which sets out regional priorities until 2020. • The RES, coordinated by emda, highlights the themes of productivity, sustainability and equality and builds on the previous two strategies; ‘Prosperity Through People’ and ‘Destination 2010’. • In early 2007 the National Audit Office announced emda had received the highest possible grade of 'performing strongly' in an independent assessment of our work - scoring 22 out of 24. • For more details visit www.emda.org.uk
The Community Celebration and AGM, 7th December 2007This event was held at babington college strasbourg drive, Beaumont leys, Leicester. |
