Resort 'most enterprising town'

A North Yorkshire seaside resort has been crowned the most enterprising town in Europe.

Scarborough picked up the European Commission accolade in recognition of its work to encourage people to start up and grow businesses.

The judges were impressed with the town's regeneration, which has included a £4m facelift of its geology museum.

Council leader Tom Fox said: "I am still picking myself up off the floor after the announcement."

Scarborough's winning bid was led by the Scarborough Renaissance Partnership, a coalition of local entrepreneurs, council staff and residents.

The resort, already named as the most enterprising place in Britain, was up against European cities including Finland's capital Helsinki, Spain's second biggest port, Valencia and Liege in Belgium.

Its achievements include a major revamp of the harbour area, measures to stamp out seasonal unemployment, diversifying into new industry sectors and attracting more than £200m of private sector investment.

Surfer and entrepreneur Paul Wood uses free WiFi available on the coast

With a population of about 50,000, Scarborough is the largest holiday resort on the Yorkshire coast.

It has been traditionally associated with tourism since its heyday as a destination for Victorian holidaymakers taking advantage of the York to Scarborough railway which opened in 1845.

Its once-thriving fishing industry is a shadow of its former self, but the town is now building a reputation for a growing digital and creative economy.

Business secretary Lord Mandelson said: "A strong enterprise culture inspires communities and creates jobs - something which is vital during these uncertain economic times.

"I would like to congratulate the Scarborough Renaissance Partnership on their success and in being recognised not just as the most enterprising place in UK but in Europe."

Tony Peers, leader of the Partnership's Town Team which steers the project, said: "The whole town has embraced the enterprise cause and to be recognised again in this way will really spur us on to become even more enterprising in the future - especially given the current economic climate.

"Coastal towns have traditionally experienced economic challenges so I hope what we've achieved inspires people to see that there is light at the end of the tunnel if entrepreneurs are supported and encouraged."

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