Enterprise expert praises local budding entrepreneurs

Dozens of new companies could be created in Irvine Bay over the coming year, thanks to the Irvine Bay Enterprise Island Challenge which launched in the area in February.

Now local budding entrepreneurs have been praised for taking part in the Challenge by leading UK enterprise expert, Iain Scott who developed the Enterprise Island concept to stimulate business growth anywhere in the world.

Iain was invited to hold an Enterprise Island Challenge by Irvine Bay Regeneration Company in partnership with North Ayrshire Council and Business Gateway. Local people aged 16 and over got the opportunity to discuss their business ideas with a panel of enterprise experts, among them experienced North Ayrshire entrepreneurs. A series of three informal panel sessions were held at venues in Irvine, Ardrossan and Kilwinning.

Said Iain Scott: “A total of more than 50 people came forward with a fantastic range of ideas which have great potential and will be developed at the masterclasses, workshops and Celebration of Enterprise which are part of the  Challenge.”

A major element in the success of the Enterprise Island approach is input from established local entrepreneurs and we struck lucky with the Irvine Bay business people who came forward and volunteered their time for the panels. They were absolutely first rate.

“In fact, one of them enjoyed the experience so much that, despite having a very busy schedule, he agreed to come back and stand in for another North Ayrshire entrepreneur who had got held up because of the snow down south.”