Gosport Borough Council has been recognised for its work to boost small businesses in the area.

The council was joint winner of a Federation of Small Businesses award for the most innovative programme, campaign or project in Hampshire or the Isle of Wight.

The award was given for the council’s activities during Global Entrepreneurship Week last year, when it co-ordinated events including workshops, networking sessions and the first Gosport Enterprise Fair.

The events were aimed at making sure local entrepreneurs and small business owners knew about the advice and support available to them. They were staged with business support organisation Enterprise First and the Basepoint Gosport business centre.

The enterprise fair was set up with Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage and hosted by her and the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership, who promoted their grants for start-ups and small businesses.

It featured local business people telling their stories of success alongside an exhibition of organisations offering advice and support.

It also included X-Forces, which helps ex-service personnel become business owners, and British Marine, which promotes the marine sector. Both offer services of special relevance to Gosport.

Cllr Stephen Philpott, Chairman of the council’s Economic Development Board, said:

“More than 100 entrepreneurs and small business owners, a significant number of them women, participated in the Global Entrepreneurship Week events – more than double the number in previous years.

“This success was as a direct result of working with our MP, who secured additional regional and national partners for the Enterprise Fair and whose input was invaluable.”

Neil Eames, FSB Wessex development manager, said:

“We’re pleased to acknowledge Gosport Borough Council for their support for small businesses, and in particular for their Global Entrepreneurship Week programme.

“Our awards aim to publicly recognise the important work undertaken by local authorities in supporting the micro and small business community, and it’s very encouraging to see such great efforts from a local council.”

Source: Gosport Borough Council

Notes:

For more information on the work relating to the award and details of the events planned for Global Entrepreneurship Week 2017 please see the following links

• Enterprising Gosport
• GEW 2017