News and features

Mon, 8 Dec 2008

Scarborough entrepreneurs show the UK who's boss

Scarborough business people have helped scoop a national award for turning the town's fortunes around.

Business people in the North Yorkshire town of Scarborough have been celebrating after it was named as the most enterprising location in the UK.

Enterprising Britain, which awarded the accolade, noted the turnaround in the town - in 2002 unemployment was double the national average but now seasonal unemployment has been all but eradicated.

The Regional Development Agency joined forces with residents and businesses, creating the Scarborough Renaissance Partnership, which has brought more than £200 million in private sector investment.

Peter Jones, BBC TV Dragon and national Enterprising Britain judge, said the town's people have learned to "tap into its latent entrepreneurial talent and harness it with tremendous results".

Noting in particular the new, thriving creative and digital industries locally, he continued: "This sector now accounts for 19 per cent of Scarborough's economy having taken over from tourism."

Nick Taylor, Renaissance manager, told the Scarborough Evening News the award was thanks to the "tenacity, thrift and vision" of businesses in the town.

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