Whilst time is tight to get your nominations in I would urge everyone to look at the Queen's Awards. These really are the equivalent of an Oscar in our industry and recognise those companies and individuals who have had a major impact.
What I like about these awards are that you have to prove what you have done as a company or individual which goes beyond the day to day expectations. Introduced in 2004 these annual awards close for nominations on 31 October and so you do not have much time to get those entries in.
All too often we fail to celebrate individuals and companies who have made a real difference and so spread the word and if it is too late for this year make sure that you put a note in the diary for next year!
Just follow the link to www.queensawards.org.uk to learn more. There seems to be a real lack of representation from the East of England in this years awards so let us try and rectify that for next year. We have a lot to be proud of.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Confused, patronised and angry!
Do people in social enterprises actually know that they are running a social enterprise? I ask this question because recently I have read many articles where the writers tie themselves in knots trying to pen a definition.
Too many people have their own vision, which it would seem has to mirror their own organisation, and then seek to dismiss any other business which could quite legitimately call themselves a social enterprise. Some recent examples range from the "Red Tory" Philip Blond struggling on Newsnight to Liam Byrne who seems to suggest that the Labour party reinvents itself as a social enterprise.
How hard is it to create a definition which everyone can understand? Looking at the essential components:
- First and foremost it is an enterprise and therefore needs to be a legal body. If not it is a voluntary or community organisation which is related to but not necessarily the same thing as a social enterprise.
- It needs to trade in the widest sense of the word.
- Profits do not go to shareholders, partners or investors but back into the business for the benefit of the wider community.
Beyond this everything is negotiable in my view. Social enterprise is not the answer to all of our problems and has no monopoly on great thoughts and ideas. However what it does have as a massive "USP" is an ethos which understands that profit at any cost is not always desirable.
I feel fed up with the rather patronising and incredulous reactions from people when you explain that money and profit is not the sole way you measure success. However I place much of the blame for this attitude firmly in the lap of the sector itself. We are fractured, not sure of ourselves, shun success and perpetuate the myths surrounding the industry.
A good example of this is the recent SEEE (Social Enterprise East of England) "inTouch" magazine. Rarely have I felt such despair after reading something designed to help and showcase the industry. Patronising articles on Twitter, business cards and a "problem page" made me angry and realise that well meaning though the people may be that they have no idea of what is happening in the real world. It assumes that its constituents are grant hungry micro businesses with no skills and experience. Well that is not the case at NWES!
If you have not got the skills to run your own business then do not set up a social enterprise - go and work for someone who has or learn them before joining our throng. The overwhelming majority of people in our sector are well meaning but until they (and funders) realise that, by being good at business you will achieve your aims much quicker, we are destined to be peripheral and seen as laudable but insignificant.
I want to be a part of an industry making a real difference. It will have companies of all shapes and sizes which are well run and have a financial vision to match its social vision. At NWES we believe in sharing our expertise far and wide and have helped numerous individuals and organisations in this country and abroad - all for free. Despite this locally we are viewed with suspicion by some because we "are too big to be a social enterprise", "make a surplus on trading", "do not have grant income" - all of these are direct quotes.
What I do applaud is the initiative being run in conjunction with RBS which is the SE100. It is looking for those social enterprises that make and measure social impact, are growing and making a real difference. Have a look at www.se100.co.uk and see what a social enterprise really looks like!
We need more of ideas like this which showcase the best and encourage the rest if we are ever going to make social enterprise clearly understood by all. I am proud to be a "social entrepreneur" but would like to see many more of us around!
Too many people have their own vision, which it would seem has to mirror their own organisation, and then seek to dismiss any other business which could quite legitimately call themselves a social enterprise. Some recent examples range from the "Red Tory" Philip Blond struggling on Newsnight to Liam Byrne who seems to suggest that the Labour party reinvents itself as a social enterprise.
How hard is it to create a definition which everyone can understand? Looking at the essential components:
- First and foremost it is an enterprise and therefore needs to be a legal body. If not it is a voluntary or community organisation which is related to but not necessarily the same thing as a social enterprise.
- It needs to trade in the widest sense of the word.
- Profits do not go to shareholders, partners or investors but back into the business for the benefit of the wider community.
Beyond this everything is negotiable in my view. Social enterprise is not the answer to all of our problems and has no monopoly on great thoughts and ideas. However what it does have as a massive "USP" is an ethos which understands that profit at any cost is not always desirable.
I feel fed up with the rather patronising and incredulous reactions from people when you explain that money and profit is not the sole way you measure success. However I place much of the blame for this attitude firmly in the lap of the sector itself. We are fractured, not sure of ourselves, shun success and perpetuate the myths surrounding the industry.
A good example of this is the recent SEEE (Social Enterprise East of England) "inTouch" magazine. Rarely have I felt such despair after reading something designed to help and showcase the industry. Patronising articles on Twitter, business cards and a "problem page" made me angry and realise that well meaning though the people may be that they have no idea of what is happening in the real world. It assumes that its constituents are grant hungry micro businesses with no skills and experience. Well that is not the case at NWES!
If you have not got the skills to run your own business then do not set up a social enterprise - go and work for someone who has or learn them before joining our throng. The overwhelming majority of people in our sector are well meaning but until they (and funders) realise that, by being good at business you will achieve your aims much quicker, we are destined to be peripheral and seen as laudable but insignificant.
I want to be a part of an industry making a real difference. It will have companies of all shapes and sizes which are well run and have a financial vision to match its social vision. At NWES we believe in sharing our expertise far and wide and have helped numerous individuals and organisations in this country and abroad - all for free. Despite this locally we are viewed with suspicion by some because we "are too big to be a social enterprise", "make a surplus on trading", "do not have grant income" - all of these are direct quotes.
What I do applaud is the initiative being run in conjunction with RBS which is the SE100. It is looking for those social enterprises that make and measure social impact, are growing and making a real difference. Have a look at www.se100.co.uk and see what a social enterprise really looks like!
We need more of ideas like this which showcase the best and encourage the rest if we are ever going to make social enterprise clearly understood by all. I am proud to be a "social entrepreneur" but would like to see many more of us around!
Friday, September 18, 2009
So was the NFEA conference worth it?
Without doubt! As always we were treated to an excellent conference, well organised, a good variety of speakers and relevant to the times. It was clear that there were fewer members than last year but those that did attend got more from the time invested, were from the leading agencies in the country and are those likely to survive the turbulent times ahead.
So what stood out? The theme of social ethos and commercial focus was a thread linking all of the elements and was best exemplified by Josephine Fairley founder of Green and Blacks. She was always going to get a great response by giving a bar of chocolate to every delegate beforehand! If anyone wants to know what happened to any uneaten bars ask Emma Chapman! Jo had a great story to tell from the germ of an idea to an exit strategy and the "adoption" of her business by Cadbury. The commercial reality was never far from the surface but this is a business with a social ethos underpinning everything that they did from sourcing to wrapping.
Whilst as always at NWES we are politically neutral the contrast between the two MP speakers at the conference was so marked as to be embarrassing. On day one we heard from Lorely Burt the Liberal spokesman and the general consensus was that she was somewhat out of her comfort zone, had only a fleeting knowledge of her brief, rambled on about a range of unrelated subjects and left everyone no clearer about her party policy on small business. When the party has a respected "hard hitter" such as Vince Cable it is all the more surprising that a "lightweight" was paraded before us. If you are going to speak at an event take the time to understand the audience, be focused and tell the listening delegates something new. I hope that Lorely matures into her brief because as one delegate said to me straight afterwards "god help us all if she ever wields any power"!
On day two we had Mark Prisk the Conservative Shadow. I am not exaggerating when I say that here was the best conference speech that we have ever had from a politician - certainly in my 12 years. Mark is obviously very at home with his portfolio, had taken the time to research the listening audience and gave us all something new. Not everything will have gone down well but we heard an honest appraisal of what can and cannot be done, how it will influence enterprise agencies and what we can expect from an incoming Conservative government. Irrespective of political leanings the audience seemed all in agreement that here was someone that we can do business with.
For the first time in many years I had no responsibility to worry about and it was somewhat liberating which made this one of the most enjoyable conferences ever. The team who attended with me all came back with several actions to put into place and a much better understanding of the industry and where NWES is placed (at the top obviously!). On this showing the NFEA conference has a lot more life in it yet and the non attendees are in danger of falling even further behind the pack. Book now for next year!
So what stood out? The theme of social ethos and commercial focus was a thread linking all of the elements and was best exemplified by Josephine Fairley founder of Green and Blacks. She was always going to get a great response by giving a bar of chocolate to every delegate beforehand! If anyone wants to know what happened to any uneaten bars ask Emma Chapman! Jo had a great story to tell from the germ of an idea to an exit strategy and the "adoption" of her business by Cadbury. The commercial reality was never far from the surface but this is a business with a social ethos underpinning everything that they did from sourcing to wrapping.
Whilst as always at NWES we are politically neutral the contrast between the two MP speakers at the conference was so marked as to be embarrassing. On day one we heard from Lorely Burt the Liberal spokesman and the general consensus was that she was somewhat out of her comfort zone, had only a fleeting knowledge of her brief, rambled on about a range of unrelated subjects and left everyone no clearer about her party policy on small business. When the party has a respected "hard hitter" such as Vince Cable it is all the more surprising that a "lightweight" was paraded before us. If you are going to speak at an event take the time to understand the audience, be focused and tell the listening delegates something new. I hope that Lorely matures into her brief because as one delegate said to me straight afterwards "god help us all if she ever wields any power"!
On day two we had Mark Prisk the Conservative Shadow. I am not exaggerating when I say that here was the best conference speech that we have ever had from a politician - certainly in my 12 years. Mark is obviously very at home with his portfolio, had taken the time to research the listening audience and gave us all something new. Not everything will have gone down well but we heard an honest appraisal of what can and cannot be done, how it will influence enterprise agencies and what we can expect from an incoming Conservative government. Irrespective of political leanings the audience seemed all in agreement that here was someone that we can do business with.
For the first time in many years I had no responsibility to worry about and it was somewhat liberating which made this one of the most enjoyable conferences ever. The team who attended with me all came back with several actions to put into place and a much better understanding of the industry and where NWES is placed (at the top obviously!). On this showing the NFEA conference has a lot more life in it yet and the non attendees are in danger of falling even further behind the pack. Book now for next year!
Monday, August 10, 2009
In a climate of cutbacks is the conference the first to go?
As we draw towards considering diary commitments for the autumn the mind is inevitably drawn towards the conference season. Over the years I have had the pleasure and misfortune to attend a wide variety of conferences covering many sectors. Sometimes as a speaker, others as a delegate I always make it a rule to look back and consider what it was that I gained from attending.
When I first started attending conferences I came back disappointed almost every time. I felt that my time could be better spent in the office and that I learned very little from my time away. After a few such episodes I looked at the common denominator linking all these conferences and it was me! Like much else in life you get out what you put in and I was a passive attendee despite always paying my own way.
To change this I knew that I had to play an active part in any conference which I was going to attend. Prior to setting off I have an indication of who it is that I wish to meet, what questions I am seeking answers to, what areas I need to be updated on and what it is that will make a difference to the business when I return.
As such I only attend those conferences which pass the tests above and always come back invigorated, with ideas to implement and new contacts made. How many people prepare themselves for conference attendance? Very few in my opinion. Too often I see delegates gravitate to those people that they know, never widen their circle of acquaintances and use the conference as a whinge session! Why?
Each year NWES takes a small contingent to the NFEA conference. We use this event as a valuable networking opportunity, chance to learn some tricks from other similar companies and gather ideas which may benefit us. I usually take a cross section of my staff to help them gain a wider appreciation of the industry and see how we compare to our peer group.
In the last week I have spoken to a couple of "wise men" in the industry who are probably not attending the NFEA conference this year. They have good reasons (excuses?) for being elsewhere but I would suggest that now more than ever attendance is vital for any agency that is serious about its future. Times ahead could, and probably will, be very hard and it is through continual learning and sharing of experiences that you stand a better chance of surviving intact.
For members of the NFEA the conference is astounding value and should be pencilled in as a must attend event. With 100+ members I would suggest that taking 2/3 people from each agency will be an investment that will pay dividends in the future. However to get that benefit consider the points above and make sure that you speak to as many new faces as familiar ones, that you get answers - or at least suggestions - to your questions and learn something that you will put into place when you return to the coal face. It could be the best money that you spend all year!
For members and non members alike see http://www.nfea.com/ for details of an industry specific conference which could help you.
When I first started attending conferences I came back disappointed almost every time. I felt that my time could be better spent in the office and that I learned very little from my time away. After a few such episodes I looked at the common denominator linking all these conferences and it was me! Like much else in life you get out what you put in and I was a passive attendee despite always paying my own way.
To change this I knew that I had to play an active part in any conference which I was going to attend. Prior to setting off I have an indication of who it is that I wish to meet, what questions I am seeking answers to, what areas I need to be updated on and what it is that will make a difference to the business when I return.
As such I only attend those conferences which pass the tests above and always come back invigorated, with ideas to implement and new contacts made. How many people prepare themselves for conference attendance? Very few in my opinion. Too often I see delegates gravitate to those people that they know, never widen their circle of acquaintances and use the conference as a whinge session! Why?
Each year NWES takes a small contingent to the NFEA conference. We use this event as a valuable networking opportunity, chance to learn some tricks from other similar companies and gather ideas which may benefit us. I usually take a cross section of my staff to help them gain a wider appreciation of the industry and see how we compare to our peer group.
In the last week I have spoken to a couple of "wise men" in the industry who are probably not attending the NFEA conference this year. They have good reasons (excuses?) for being elsewhere but I would suggest that now more than ever attendance is vital for any agency that is serious about its future. Times ahead could, and probably will, be very hard and it is through continual learning and sharing of experiences that you stand a better chance of surviving intact.
For members of the NFEA the conference is astounding value and should be pencilled in as a must attend event. With 100+ members I would suggest that taking 2/3 people from each agency will be an investment that will pay dividends in the future. However to get that benefit consider the points above and make sure that you speak to as many new faces as familiar ones, that you get answers - or at least suggestions - to your questions and learn something that you will put into place when you return to the coal face. It could be the best money that you spend all year!
For members and non members alike see http://www.nfea.com/ for details of an industry specific conference which could help you.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Short term mentality - long term suffering.
This week we will learn how much profit (or loss) that our Banks will post. To the fore comes comment on bonuses paid to those traders "gambling" in a high risk - high reward environment. Howls of outrage are usually met with protests that it is too difficult to change the culture, that it will lead to an exodus of talent etc.
We have two issues here 1. Should Banks be allowed to gamble on the markets this way and 2. How should traders be rewarded.
On the first point then the answer should be yes however there has to be strict limits placed on the trading related to the strength of the Bank balance sheet and ability to meet obligations should losses be made. It was unlimited gambling on ever more obscure derivatives which caused the downfall of many institutions and yet we seem prepared to let the same mistakes be made. The argument that a bank is too large to be allowed to fail simply means that it is too large.
Reward for traders has a simple solution and yet no-one wants to break ranks. Traders can be paid bonuses according to how successful they are but the bonuses should be in shares and must be held for at least 5 years before they can be traded. In addition if losses are made then entitlement to shares reduces proportionally. This way there is an incentive to look at the long term rather than short term and each trader is tied to the performance of their parent company.
The bleats that this may affect the city in a negative way and drive away "talent" are foundless. Do we really want financial mercenaries gambling with our future? If they have no moral guidelines or sense of responsibility then quite frankly we are better off without them.
We talk about corporate responsibility and it is a real interest of mine but I have doubts if any of our top 250 companies pay anything other than lip service to this.
Reward exceptional work but tie it in to overall company performance and make any incentives long term - do this and we may just have a better society and stronger companies as a result!
We have two issues here 1. Should Banks be allowed to gamble on the markets this way and 2. How should traders be rewarded.
On the first point then the answer should be yes however there has to be strict limits placed on the trading related to the strength of the Bank balance sheet and ability to meet obligations should losses be made. It was unlimited gambling on ever more obscure derivatives which caused the downfall of many institutions and yet we seem prepared to let the same mistakes be made. The argument that a bank is too large to be allowed to fail simply means that it is too large.
Reward for traders has a simple solution and yet no-one wants to break ranks. Traders can be paid bonuses according to how successful they are but the bonuses should be in shares and must be held for at least 5 years before they can be traded. In addition if losses are made then entitlement to shares reduces proportionally. This way there is an incentive to look at the long term rather than short term and each trader is tied to the performance of their parent company.
The bleats that this may affect the city in a negative way and drive away "talent" are foundless. Do we really want financial mercenaries gambling with our future? If they have no moral guidelines or sense of responsibility then quite frankly we are better off without them.
We talk about corporate responsibility and it is a real interest of mine but I have doubts if any of our top 250 companies pay anything other than lip service to this.
Reward exceptional work but tie it in to overall company performance and make any incentives long term - do this and we may just have a better society and stronger companies as a result!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
So does an Enterprise Agency really make a difference?
When hosting the judges for the Enterprising Britain Awards we were asked a similar question which encouraged me to do some investigation. NWES was set up to combat the mass redundancies due to the closure of the Pye TV factory in Lowestoft back in 1982. Its successor Sanyo recently closed so where does Lowestoft stand now compared to then?
Looking at the figures for the last few years one can see how the town has performed in comparison to the region and country.
Economically Active – in employment – all people:
Date Number Waveney East England Great Britain
Mar 06 47400 70.6% 77.7% 74.3%
Sep 08 54000 78.3% 77.6% 74.5%
As you can see Waveney has substantially outperformed both the East of England and Great Britain rising from a laggard to being above the national average for economically active people in employment.
Economically Active – Unemployed – all people
Date Number Waveney East England Great Britain
Jan 06 3800 7.3% 4.6% 5.4%
Sep 08 2900 5.1% 4.3% 5.3%
Source: www.nomisweb.co.uk
There is a similar story with the latest unemployed figures; whilst there will always be seasonal fluctuations due to the nature of the area it can be seen that substantial progress has been made, bringing Waveney to below the national average from a position 35% above it some 33 months before.
The most recent figures for those people on Job Seekers Allowance, whilst showing an increase, demonstrate that our policy of job diversification is sheltering Lowestoft from the worst effects of the recession. In the period from January 2008 to May 2009 (latest figures available) Lowestoft has seen a 41% increase in JSA claimants. However in the same period the East of England has seen a 106% rise and Great Britain an 86% rise.
These are impressive results and whilst full employment is always the goal it shows how a policy of diversification and broadening the business base has paid substantial dividends over the years.
Lowestoft with NWES at the helm is now looking to the future positioning itself as the UK base for the rapidly emerging renewables industry - housed at the £10m NWES managed OrbisEnergy. Check out our website for great pictures from the top floor of the most easterly building in Britain!
Looking at the figures for the last few years one can see how the town has performed in comparison to the region and country.
Economically Active – in employment – all people:
Date Number Waveney East England Great Britain
Mar 06 47400 70.6% 77.7% 74.3%
Sep 08 54000 78.3% 77.6% 74.5%
As you can see Waveney has substantially outperformed both the East of England and Great Britain rising from a laggard to being above the national average for economically active people in employment.
Economically Active – Unemployed – all people
Date Number Waveney East England Great Britain
Jan 06 3800 7.3% 4.6% 5.4%
Sep 08 2900 5.1% 4.3% 5.3%
Source: www.nomisweb.co.uk
There is a similar story with the latest unemployed figures; whilst there will always be seasonal fluctuations due to the nature of the area it can be seen that substantial progress has been made, bringing Waveney to below the national average from a position 35% above it some 33 months before.
The most recent figures for those people on Job Seekers Allowance, whilst showing an increase, demonstrate that our policy of job diversification is sheltering Lowestoft from the worst effects of the recession. In the period from January 2008 to May 2009 (latest figures available) Lowestoft has seen a 41% increase in JSA claimants. However in the same period the East of England has seen a 106% rise and Great Britain an 86% rise.
These are impressive results and whilst full employment is always the goal it shows how a policy of diversification and broadening the business base has paid substantial dividends over the years.
Lowestoft with NWES at the helm is now looking to the future positioning itself as the UK base for the rapidly emerging renewables industry - housed at the £10m NWES managed OrbisEnergy. Check out our website for great pictures from the top floor of the most easterly building in Britain!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
I thought that I would post a blog entry by a judge for the "Enterprising Britain" competition who visited us in Lowestoft. As you can see he was impressed by what he saw and we will know how successful we have been at the national awards in October!
Enterprising Britain: A Judge's PerspectiveBy Maurice Helfgott, Founder of Amery Capital Ltd.Published Monday, 20 July, 2009 - 18:53
As founder of investment and advisory firm, Amery Capital , whose investments include Long Tall Sally, I was appointed a judge in this year’s Enterprising Britain competition has been a fantastic experience.
I have now completed both of my judging visits and each has highlighted how passion and dedication can transform lives and communities. It is great to see projects demonstrating how working in partnership can create new and exciting opportunities.
Each year, Enterprising Britain seeks out the most enterprising place in the UK, somewhere which has improved the local climate for business by creating opportunities for residents to be enterprising.
In these tough economic times, the dedication and vision of the people involved in these projects is a real inspiration. Entrepreneurship is key to our journey out of the recession and will be crucial in building a strong economy for the future.
The project I visited in the South West is run by The University of Plymouth, which is taking a leading role in the area’s social, economic and cultural development. It is fully engaged and working in partnership with a variety of organisations and agencies across the city to ensure the programmes developed are based on real need and are complimentary to partner activity. The university has developed a wide range of projects targeted to create an impact and raise levels of aspiration and quality of life.
Particularly interesting in Plymouth was a groundbreaking new partnership between the university and the Royal Government of Bahrain. It is a great example of private sector investment in the project and signals the creation of exciting international links and potential investment in Plymouth’s science and technology sectors. It is anticipated that the partnership will significantly boost the city’s financial and knowledge economies and its promotion of the vast opportunities available is definitely something I think others can learn from.
In the East of England NWES, a local enterprise agency in Lowestoft, was set up to reduce disadvantage by encouraging enterprising activity and self employment. Concentrating predominantly on people who are long term unemployed and facing barriers to work, its aim is to increase the number of business start-ups within the town by offering support, training, mentoring and provision of finance and flexible workspace.
The jewel in the crown in Lowestoft is the newly opened OrbisEnergy centre – an £8.7million investment designed to capitalise on the renewable energy sector. Amongst many other projects, the organisation gave £3million of its own money to fund the Lowestoft Enterprise Park, transforming a derelict industrial area into a thriving community of small businesses. NWES is about finding ways to give real benefits to both individuals and the community so that it is no longer dependant on just a few major employers, but offers a range of employment opportunities throughout the area.
Both projects I visited have successfully created jobs, reduced unemployment and attracted inward investment. The knowledge and experience they have will prove a vital aid for stimulating economic recovery and I wish them the best of luck in the competition.
NWES is proud to be the Eastern area representative in this years competition and are happy to share our experience with any other "enterprising place".
Enterprising Britain: A Judge's PerspectiveBy Maurice Helfgott, Founder of Amery Capital Ltd.Published Monday, 20 July, 2009 - 18:53
As founder of investment and advisory firm, Amery Capital , whose investments include Long Tall Sally, I was appointed a judge in this year’s Enterprising Britain competition has been a fantastic experience.
I have now completed both of my judging visits and each has highlighted how passion and dedication can transform lives and communities. It is great to see projects demonstrating how working in partnership can create new and exciting opportunities.
Each year, Enterprising Britain seeks out the most enterprising place in the UK, somewhere which has improved the local climate for business by creating opportunities for residents to be enterprising.
In these tough economic times, the dedication and vision of the people involved in these projects is a real inspiration. Entrepreneurship is key to our journey out of the recession and will be crucial in building a strong economy for the future.
The project I visited in the South West is run by The University of Plymouth, which is taking a leading role in the area’s social, economic and cultural development. It is fully engaged and working in partnership with a variety of organisations and agencies across the city to ensure the programmes developed are based on real need and are complimentary to partner activity. The university has developed a wide range of projects targeted to create an impact and raise levels of aspiration and quality of life.
Particularly interesting in Plymouth was a groundbreaking new partnership between the university and the Royal Government of Bahrain. It is a great example of private sector investment in the project and signals the creation of exciting international links and potential investment in Plymouth’s science and technology sectors. It is anticipated that the partnership will significantly boost the city’s financial and knowledge economies and its promotion of the vast opportunities available is definitely something I think others can learn from.
In the East of England NWES, a local enterprise agency in Lowestoft, was set up to reduce disadvantage by encouraging enterprising activity and self employment. Concentrating predominantly on people who are long term unemployed and facing barriers to work, its aim is to increase the number of business start-ups within the town by offering support, training, mentoring and provision of finance and flexible workspace.
The jewel in the crown in Lowestoft is the newly opened OrbisEnergy centre – an £8.7million investment designed to capitalise on the renewable energy sector. Amongst many other projects, the organisation gave £3million of its own money to fund the Lowestoft Enterprise Park, transforming a derelict industrial area into a thriving community of small businesses. NWES is about finding ways to give real benefits to both individuals and the community so that it is no longer dependant on just a few major employers, but offers a range of employment opportunities throughout the area.
Both projects I visited have successfully created jobs, reduced unemployment and attracted inward investment. The knowledge and experience they have will prove a vital aid for stimulating economic recovery and I wish them the best of luck in the competition.
NWES is proud to be the Eastern area representative in this years competition and are happy to share our experience with any other "enterprising place".
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