North East unleashes enterprise across the globe
November 2009 brought the sixth annual celebration of enterprise in the North East.
This is the second year that the event, known as Global Entrepreneurship Week, saw the region become part of a worldwide movement with over 85 countries taking part.
This year's theme focussed on highlighting the role of enterprise in driving economic recovery, by encouraging millions of people to unleash their enterprising talents and turn their ideas into reality during the week 16-22 November.
Last year saw 446 events take place across the North East with over three million people attending 25,000 Global Entrepreneurship Week events in 77 countries. In the UK alone, 644,000 people attended over 6,300 events.
Highlights of this year's Global Entrepreneurship Week included the launch of the annual Make Your Mark Challenge, ‘Don't be a Carbon Copy' – the UK's largest one-day enterprise competition which took place on 16 November. Other events held during the week included Women's Enterprise Day on 18 November, Social Enterprise Day on the 19th and Home Enterprise Day on the 20th.
65 students from English Martyrs School in Hartlepool participated in the Make your Mark Challenge along with 40 students from St Hild's Church of England Voluntary Aided School and a group from Catcote Business and Enterprise College.
Enterprise UK director of partnerships Pamela Hargreaves said: "Global Entrepreneurship Week acts as a catalyst to generate new ideas and connect people to organisations who can help them get their ideas off the ground to contribute to the regeneration of communities such as Hartlepool."
"The events of the week gave Hartlepool's entrepreneurs the chance to take advantage of opportunities on a local, national and global scale and to encourage aspiring entrepreneurs to think about starting their own business."
Supporters of the week include government departments such as the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills and the Environment Agency; key business organisations such as the British Chambers of Commerce, the CBI, the Federation of Small Businesses and the Institute of Directors.
Global Entrepreneurship Week is co-ordinated by Enterprise UK, a campaign to unlock the UK's enterprise potential. For further details please visit www.gew.org.uk.
