Search is on to find the most enterprising place in Scotland

Lord Mandelson, Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, is calling for hotspots of innovation - locations which are tackling the economic downturn head on by creating jobs, boosting local businesses and nurturing budding entrepreneurial talent to step up and show why they deserve to be named Scotland's most enterprising place.

The Enterprising Britain competition, a key part of the Government's drive to create the right conditions for enterprise across the UK, seeks out areas of enterprise excellence from across the country - villages, towns, cities and neighbourhoods which have embedded a culture of enterprise that supports and encourages their entrepreneurs and businesses, helping them to survive the downturn and emerge stronger on the other side.

Last year Heart of Hawick was named the most enterprising place in Scotland and went through to compete in the UK-wide competition. Heart of Hawick is an arts and culture-led regeneration project designed to make a substantial contribution to the social, cultural and economic regeneration of the town and the wider Borders area of Scotland. Through the regeneration of two key derelict buildings in Hawick's West End - Tower Mill and the Corn Exchange - the project has created jobs, provided services for young people and training for inclusion groups.

Among the project's successes are bringing a cinema back to Hawick following a 25 year absence, and increasing tourism through the regenerated tourist attractions. Engaging with young people has been a priority, with 255 pupils from the local high school working with artist Jane Gaze to create a Civic Space outside the new Heritage Hub. Each pupil created an individual ceramic cobble into which they impressed their surname, reflecting and embracing the multicultural nature of the town.

The 2009 competition is being launched in Scarborough; the winner of last year's hotly contested UK competition. Following its Enterprising Britain success, the seaside town's enterprise credentials have just been recognised on an international scale by the European Enterprise Awards, where it is up against countries including France, Latvia and Norway on the shortlist for the Entrepreneurship Promotion category. The results will be announced at an awards ceremony in Prague in May.

This year, Enterprising Britain is encouraging businesses-led projects which have transformed their local communities to enter the awards and gain recognition for their fantastic work.

Secretary of State for Business, Lord Mandelson said, "Enterprise is a long-term investment for the future and crucial for success in the current economic climate. In a downturn, it is more important than ever that entrepreneurs are supported and have the confidence they need to develop their ideas.

"Enterprising Britain allows communities to share their experiences of innovation, inspire others and drive forward enterprise."

Terry Currie, director of Enterprise for Scottish Enterprise, said, "Now more than ever, we need to tap into examples of what is working in places across Scotland in terms of supporting, encouraging and maintaining enterprise. I would encourage all the innovative projects that have used entrepreneurial spirit to make Scotland a better place to live and work to enter and have a chance at being crowned the UK's enterprise champion."  

Enterprising Britain is free to enter and is open to all places in Scotland that can demonstrate the impact enterprise has had on their community in the past two years. To register interest contact Gillian Grant on 01506 844 611 or email your contact details to enterprisingbritain@makeyourmark.org.uk

Entries must be submitted by 30 April 2009 and the winner will be announced in October. The competition is run by Make Your Mark, on behalf of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), working in close partnership with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.