Pride of Hull initiative crowns Hull the most enterprising place in Yorkshire & Humber 2009

26/06/2009

Beating stiff competition from across the region, Kingston upon Hull with its Pride of Hull initiative has today been named the most enterprising place in Yorkshire & Humber in the Government’s Enterprising Britain competition.

Enterprising Britain 2009 is a nationwide competition run by Enterprise Insight on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and in partnership with the Regional Development Agencies and Devolved Administrations. Now in its fifth year, the competition celebrates and rewards the most enterprising areas in the UK; those places of enterprise excellence that have helped transform the social and economic fortunes of their area.

The lead organisation behind the Pride of Hull submission is Hull City Council, supported by Hull Forward (the city’s economic development company) and One Hull Business Forum (the business arm of Hull’s local strategic partnership).

Over three years, Hull partners have developed capacity to deliver major, integrated regeneration and worked to develop the vision and economic strategy of Hull based on creating appropriate infrastructure and conditions for enterprise growth, through business support, training, people and communities.

The joint approach reflects Hull’s enterprise ‘story’, which is characterised by partnership. Kingston upon Hull is a city of innovation, enterprise and, vitally, collaboration – a place where the public sector, academia, communities and private businesses work together to create prosperity, deliver lasting change and enforce a platform to inspire and support brand new innovators and entrepreneurs in the city.

Hull has many pioneers both past and present who reflect its culture of enterprise spirit – William Wilberforce, Amy Johnson, and Isaac Reckitt.

Kingston upon Hull is transforming itself into a truly enterprising city. 

Anything and everything is possible – that is the belief in Kingston upon Hull right now.

Hull, through its partnerships, organisations and people has succeeded to deliver tangible platforms from which entrepreneurial individuals and companies can embrace real enterprise. These people have become Ambassadors for what has been and can be achieved in city and sustainability of the Hull process ensures the cycle begins time and time again.  As well as real enterprise in 2009, Kingston upon Hull clearly demonstrates promise for the future, optimism for good fortune and a winning spirit that is as infectious as it is inspirational to other places.

Commenting on the success Linda Pollard - Chair of the Regional Enterprising Britain Competition Selection Panel and Deputy Chair of Yorkshire Forward said;

“The Pride of Hull entry won the votes of the panel because the Hull team presented a seamless approach to the delivery of their enterprise agenda across the City. 

“We were impressed with the real partnership working and commitment of the private and public sectors to genuinely work together as one across the City.

“Hull’s success demonstrates what can be achieved when people work together to improve the social and economic prospects of their community. Our region has a rich history of enterprise and we are confident that the success of the Pride of Hull initiative team will encourage others to take enterprise initiatives to their heart, and thereby strengthen the enterprise culture in Yorkshire & Humber for the benefit of future generations.”

Mark Jones, head of regional development at Hull City Council said: “Winning the regional heat of the Enterprising Britain competition is a fantastic achievement and we are delighted to have been recognised for all our hard work.

“Pride of Hull is an ongoing enterprise initiative and we will continue to work towards improving the economic fortunes of the city. Hopefully, our commitment and determination will stand us in good stead for the national Enterprising Britain final and hopefully on to the European finals.”

Yorkshire Forward has spent the last four months hunting for the most enterprising place in Yorkshire & Humber, with the aim that the Region will once again be home to the Most Enterprising Place in Britain in 2009 after its success last year with Scarborough achieving the National accolade and then going on to be named the Most Enterprising Place in Europe.

On the 30th of June the Hull partners showcasing the Pride of Hull initiative will be have the opportunity to demonstrate Kingston upon Hull is worthy of the Enterprising Britain 2009 national winner’s title when they are visited by members of a high profile national judging panel led by Sue Brownson OBE.

The Enterprising Britain 2009 winner will go on to represent the UK at the European Enterprise Awards later in the year.

For more information about the Enterprising Britain competition and further details on how to enter, please visit www.enterprisingbritain.org.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors

Enterprising Britain is a nationwide competition that celebrates and recognises enterprise achievement throughout all the regions of the UK. For more information please visit www.enterprisingbritain.org.uk.
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 neighbourhood 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 ran from 25 February 2009 to 29 May 2009. The 12 finalists will be visited by members of the judging panel over the summer.
Enterprise Insight aims to increase levels of entrepreneurship in the UK. It was founded by the four leading UK business membership organisations – the British Chambers of Commerce, the CBI, the Federation of Small Businesses and the Institute of Directors. It is supported by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and endorsed by the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. www.makeyourmark.org.uk