Burnley has been named the most enterprising place in Britain after the Lancashire town won the top accolade in the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills' (BIS) Enterprising Britain Awards.
The Burnley Bondholders scheme, involving over 100 local firms that work together to promote Burnley, made the town stand out as a place for business. The scheme has helped attract £10m of investment to the area.
Business and enterprise minister Michael Fallon said:
“The Burnley Bondholders scheme is reinvigorating the local economy and helping to change perceptions of Burnley. Initiatives like this are working hard to boost growth and thoroughly deserve recognition and the opportunity to represent the UK at the European Awards in November.”
Councillor Julie Cooper, leader of Burnley Council, said the accolade showed the Lancashire town is leading the country in promoting manufacturing.
“We are punching above our weight and we have big ambitions. Burnley is well on its way to forging a strong international reputation as a centre of excellence for manufacturing, particularly in the aerospace industry.
“This award reflects Burnley’s growing stature in showing the way to the rest of the country in promoting manufacturing in Britain and puts us on the map as a place where enterprise and innovation are thriving.”
The Enterprising Britain Awards had winners in four categories with Burnley taking the Most Enterprising Place category.
The Premier League won the category for Promoting Enterprise for providing tailored support to enterprises, using its brand in local communities across the UK.
Hackney Council’s ‘Hackney House’ initiative handed the London borough the the award for Promoting Exports with its “ambitious promotion” of the area.
Aberdeen College took the award for School/FE College Community Enterprise back to Scotland. The college was praised for ingraining an “entrepreneurial culture” throughout the establishment.
