A SPECIAL reception hosted by Enterprise UK - organiser of the Enterprising Britain Competition - was held to mark the achievements of NWES Lowestoft, which took the coveted title of the most enterprising place in Britain.

A SPECIAL reception hosted by Enterprise UK - organiser of the Enterprising Britain Competition - was held to mark the achievements of NWES Lowestoft, which took the coveted title of the most enterprising place in Britain.

NWES Lowestoft chief executive Kevin Horne was joined by Waveney MP Bob Blizzard, Hazel Johnson, head of Enterprise UK for the east of England, and key stakeholders for the ceremony at NWES' OrbisEnergy building on Monday.

'Winning the title of the most enterprising place in Britain is a remarkable achievement and one which can be used in the wider community for the benefit of the town,' Mr Horne said. 'Lowestoft has something special to shout about… let's make sure that we do!'

Hazel Johnson said: 'This event is not only to celebrate NWES Lowestoft winning the title of the most enterprising place in Britain, it is also an opportunity for those who have played a key role in making Lowestoft the enterprising place it is today to join together and look to the bright future the town has.'

Run by Enterprise UK, on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Enterprising Britain was a nationwide competition to find the most enterprising place in the UK - a location where enterprise is creating jobs and transforming communities.

After a tough judging day held earlier in the year, Lowestoft secured the accolade after transforming itself from a town in decline hit by industry downturn into a breeding ground for business growth and job creation, with NWES Lowestoft helping to start up over 5,000 new businesses that have created 10,000 jobs in the whole eastern region since 1982.

Enterprising Britain judge and entrepreneur Polly Gower said: 'Lowestoft is a fantastic example of the role that alternative business models and new technologies can play. Renewables have formed a key part of NWES' bid to become the most enterprising place in the UK and the project is one of the early adopters of the social enterprise model, proving what a success this can be.

'I believe their model of working can and should be replicated across the country,' she added.