West Kilbride Craft & Design Town has won the DTI’s Enterprising Britain 2006 competition becoming the UK's capital of enterprise.

Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, Alistair Darling MP, said "All of the finalists showed why the UK is such an enterprising place, but West Kilbride stood out as a fantastic example of just what can happen when enterprise is put at the heart of the community. West Kilbride has embraced a real 'can do' attitude to successfully regenerate its town centre, helping to transform the whole community. The Craft & Design Town is an excellent example of our national enterprise spirit, and a worthy winner of Enterprising Britain 2006."

Faced with above average unemployment and a town centre filled with empty and shops, West Kilbride used the theme of craft and design to transform itself into a thriving community and Scotland's first Craft & Design Town.  The project has encouraged enterprise to flourish by providing affordable studio accommodation for designer makers, and redeveloping the town centre as a focus for niche retailing, conserving and enhancing local architecture and attracting visitors to the town.

The project has already led to the creation of five studios, each with a shop front/exhibition area and workshop, a shop, a gallery, and attracted 14 new businesses to the town. This has created 24 direct jobs in the small community of West Kilbride, as well as generating indirect jobs in industries such as tourism and catering in the surrounding area.

West Kilbride will now represent the UK in the European Enterprise Awards later this year.

Fresh, an exhibition celebrating the time of year when summer turns into autumn is on at The Gallery in West Kilbride  until 30 September 2006.  It shows work by a combination of established designers and new graduates and highlights the work of jeweller Alison Macleod.