Herefordshire has become the West Midlands Enterprise Capital for 2008.
A partnership led by Herefordshire Council and including Hereford businesses and social enterprises has been named winner of the Enterprising Britain Award, West Midlands by regional development agency Advantage West Midlands.
Advantage West Midlands co-ordinated the competition within the region on behalf of the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR).
Enterprising Britain 2008 seeks to find the most enterprising towns, cities or places in the UK where jobs have been created and communities brought together for the benefit of businesses and local people.
David Hooper, Enterprise Business Development Manager within the Economic Development Directorate at Advantage West Midlands, led the team of regional judges, which included Peter Henderson, Managing Director of Valve Train Components based in Lichfield (a leading supplier to the global automotive industry) and John Rider, Representative of the Institute of Directors, West Midlands.
John Rider said: “All the judges felt that the Hereford application demonstrated some excellent partnership working between the public and private sector. Everybody in Herefordshire should be proud of the way the area has prospered over the last few years.”
Peter Henderson said: “As a member of the West Midlands Regional Enterprise Board I will be ensuring that some of the work and activities that have taken place in Herefordshire are replicated throughout the West Midlands Region and ensure that the best practice being demonstrated in this local area is shared across the region.”
Councillor Adrian Blackshaw, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Community Services, said: "We are delighted that Herefordshire's spirit of enterprise has been recognised. Over the last few years, we have worked hard in the face of many challenges to encourage the growth of a broad spread of businesses in terms of size and specialism, with some now competing effectively on a global scale."
Natalia Silver, Head of Economic and Community Services at Herefordshire Council, who led the bid added: "Many of the projects and businesses that are doing so well have benefited from our various support channels, many of which again have been supported by Advantage West Midlands. The Enterprising Britain award shows we are succeeding and have ambitious projects in place to ensure we continue to grow together. We have high hopes for the national judging later in the month."
A judge from Enterprising Britain 2008 and officials from BERR will visit Herefordshire later in June to decide whether it will be crowned the most enterprising place in Britain.