Edinburgh has been nominated as one of the UK’s top towns for business. The Scottish capital is one of three in Scotland and 12 across the UK to be named following a national competition to find the nation’s top places for doing business that are not on the usual radar.
Edinburgh is joined by Bridge of Allan, north of Stirling and Kirkcudbright in Dumfries and Galloway. It now goes to the public vote to find the top town across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The UK’s Top Towns initiative is run by Enterprise Nation, the UK’s leading small business network and business support provider.
The initiative aims to shine a spotlight on the UK’s towns and cities that successfully nurture entrepreneurial spirit in order to make a lasting impact on local communities and the economy.
The towns were nominated based on the following criteria:
· Connectivity including broadband, phone signal and transport links
· Dedicated workspaces
· Retail spaces including outlets with short-term leases or pop-up shops, markets and street food areas
· Networks that allow small business communities to collaborate and swap ideas and information
· Leadership – active local councils that support start-ups and entrepreneurs
Emma Jones, CBE, founder of Enterprise Nation, said: “We’re delighted Edinburgh has been nominated in our Top Towns for Business competition. What we’re looking for are areas that are going the extra mile to support enterprise and entrepreneurs - and we hope to uncover some great work behind the scenes that can sometimes go unnoticed.
“The importance of local businesses to the economy was brought to the surface during the pandemic and it’s not always something that can be understood by using the usual measures. Now we hope to understand better what you need to make the best ecosystem to help businesses flourish - and this initiative will shine a spotlight on places, like Edinburgh, that get it really right.”
To vote for Edinburgh, go to https://www.enterprisenation.com/dell-top-town/vote/. The winners will be announced on April 26.
