Brussels, 14/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - This year's nominees for the European Enterprise Awards (EEA) help people create businesses whether they are young or over 50, urban or rural, local or export oriented. Many of them have managed to drive social change through entrepreneurship by giving opportunities to disadvantaged groups such as immigrants, the disabled and even unskilled problem youth. Since 2006, the European Enterprise Awards has rewarded excellence in promoting entrepreneurship and small business at a national, regional and local level.
This year's competition winners will be announced at the 5th EEA award ceremony on 24 May 2011, which will be co-hosted by the Hungarian Presidency in the prestigious National Gallery in Budapest.
The high-level jury, representing business, government and academia, reviewed the 54 selected entries and decided on a shortlist of 12 nominees in the following five categories: - Promoting the Entrepreneurial Spirit: Poland (fostering entrepreneurship among the over 50s), Spain (transforming Barcelona's entrepreneurial landscape) and Turkey (local honey bee spurs entrepreneurial buzz); - Investing in Skills: Netherlands (learning about entrepreneurship through real-life practice in Amsterdam), United Kingdom (creative skills drive social change and enterprise in Newham); - Improving the Business Environment: Hungary (helping local SMEs save energy and money), Sweden (stimulating rural entrepreneurship through e-trade and micro-investments); - Supporting the Internationalisation of Business: France (Rhône-Alpes Region uses unique support model to boost exports), Italy (internationalising Prato's businesses through product experimentation); - Responsible and Inclusive Entrepreneurship: Austria (mentoring for immigrants helps social integration and economic development), Hungary (hotel gains a competitive advantage by employing disabled individuals), Lithuania (restaurant helps rehabilitation and integration of former drug addicts). (L.C./transl.rt)