THE enterprising initiatives of Lowestoft and Waveney businesses could help put the area on the map in a national competition.Ideas are being sought to help promote the town and region as one of the most dynamic places in the country as part of the Enterprising Britain contest.

THE enterprising initiatives of Lowestoft and Waveney business-es could help put the area on the map in a national competition.

Ideas are being sought to help promote the town and region as one of the most dynamic places in the country as part of the Enterprising Britain contest.

And readers are being encouraged to help develop the entry process and strategy by highlighting businesses and organisations which can be used as case studies for the contest.

The competition is aimed at inspiring projects and organisations to take the plunge, have faith in their ideas and put their busi-ness plans into action through innovation and technology, participation and social inclusion, education and skills, environment and infrastructure, and leadership and collaboration.

The winner will be judged the most enterprising place in the UK, a location where enterprise has helped transform a community and led to improved economic prospects for the area.

In 2006, Lowestoft entered the contest and came second with its Dawn of Enterprise project. Now it hopes to build on that success by entering the 2009 challenge.

Hazel Johnson, of Enterprise Lowestoft, who is heading up a working party to develop a detailed document ready for the competition, said: 'This is a marvellous opportunity for us to demonstrate the massive impact many brave initiatives and fledgling businesses have made on the town and the district.

She has been joined by Waveney MP Bob Blizzard, Richard Perkins from the Waveney Economic Partnership, and representatives from 1st East, Make Your Mark campaign, Norfolk and Waveney Enterprise Partnership, and other key organisations.

She said there was a need to galvanise the community to supp-ort the entry and help to raise the profile of the town and district.

The working party has to produce a detailed document for judges to determine how Lowestoft has improved through enterprise in the past two years.

All entrants must be able to prove that enterprise is a reason for the economic or social changes within an area.

Mrs Johnson said the group had already brainstormed many ideas, including Lowestoft's involvement in the wind energy industry and the Orbis Centre, bids by sporting clubs to train Olympic athletes and the way Lowestoft Town Football Club had marketed itself in the run up to their appearance at Wembley in the FA Vase.

Should Lowestoft make it into the regional stage, the town will go through to the national final. A win would mean automatic nomination as UK representative to the European Enterprise Awards and an invitation to join the Enterprising Britain network of enterprising places and people.

If you want to make an input or suggestion for the local entry, write to Russell Cook, Lowestoft Journal, 147 London Road North, Lowestoft NR32 1NB, or e-mail russell.cook@archant.co.uk