Willow Park Housing Trust has been crowned the most enterprising place in the Northwest, beating stiff competition from across the region in the nation’s Enterprising Britain competition.

Now in its sixth year, the nationwide competition run by ‘Enterprise UK’ rewards cities, villages, towns and neighbourhoods that have tackled the economic downturn head on, successfully creating jobs, boosting local business and nurturing entrepreneurial talent, as the UK emerges from recession.

Willow Park Housing Trust was recognised for their Enterprise Project, which is based in a ward ranked in the top 1% most deprived areas in England.

As a Housing Trust, ‘enterprise’ is not their main activity, but with a housing stock of 7,800 properties, covering 3 wards in Wythenshawe, South Manchester with an area population of 31,000 people, they realised they are in a unique position to raise awareness about self employment and enterprise, supporting new businesses amongst residents, dispelling myths and certain negative challenges facing their tenants and others living in the area.

The Willow Park Housing Trust Enterprise Project has been in existence since December 2004 and in this time, had a massive impact in changing the lives of people within the local community.

Joe Doherty, Chief Executive of Willow Park Housing Trust, said:

“Winning Enterprising Britain for the Northwest is a fantastic achievement and we are delighted to have been recognised for our work in bringing change to the area, creating jobs and transforming the community. Our initiative doesn’t stop here though - we will continue to champion enterprise and look forward to the national finals of the competition.”

Throughout August 2010, Willow Park Housing Trust will go up against the other eleven regional finalists from around the UK for the Enterprising Britain 2010 national title. The overall winner will then go on to represent the UK at the European Enterprise Awards next year.

Commenting on the success Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive, Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), said:

“I am delighted that Willow Park has claimed this year’s regional enterprise accolade. For a small project receiving very little financial resource, the intensive yet informal and community based approach to enterprise in deprived areas, is a model that could be embraced by registered social housing providers across the country.

“The success of Willow Park demonstrates what can be achieved if people work together to improve the social and economic prospects of their community. We are confident their example will encourage other organisations to do more to support entrepreneurial behaviour in the region, benefitting future generations. I wish them luck in the national competition.”

This year’s runner up prize goes to ‘Give it a Go: The £5k Challenge’ – a Lancashire County Council project that aims to find the county’s brightest enterprising ideas that can benefit local communities. To date this has included 12 district winners, each receiving £5,000 towards their bright and enterprising ideas. The winning entrants are now competing for a further £20,000 cash injection, rewarded to the idea that has shown the greatest potential.

County Councillor Michael Green, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Lancashire County Council said:

“There are many innovative people in Lancashire and as a county council we are keen to encourage people to develop their enterprising ideas. We're very pleased to be named among the best in the North West for a scheme that is bringing change to the area, creating jobs and transforming communities. Our work doesn’t stop here though, we will continue to champion enterprise and look forward to seeing the impact that ‘Give it a Go’ has in the years to come.”

East Lancashire’s No Limits won the 2009 regional stages of the Enterprising Britain competition.

For more information about the 2010 Enterprising Britain competition go to www.enterpriseuk.org/enterprisingbritain.