Latest News - Press Release
AWARD SUCCESS FOR WALSALL REGENERATION COMPANY - 4th September 2006
The success of Walsall Regeneration Company in spearheading the revitalisation of the town and raising its profile as a place to invest, work and live, has been recognised with a top award.
WRC was honoured at the annual Black Country Asian Business Association Awards where it won the regeneration award category in a glittering ceremony held at the Copthorne Hotel in Brierley Hill.
Dr Peter Cromar, WRC’s chief executive, said: “This is an exciting period of change for Walsall and its diverse communities, with real progress being made to restore Walsall as a leading Black Country town. We are delighted to receive this award which recognises how far we have come already and acknowledges our continuing work to attract investment and provide new homes, jobs and a better future for the people of Walsall.”
Akshay Parikh, WRC’s programme director, said: “The energy and initiative of the Asian business community is one of the strengths of Walsall and we are working closely with them. Indeed some 35 per cent of new businesses starting in Walsall come from the black and minority ethnic community.
“We are committed to developing the right environment to encourage enterprise and skills. We want a town where businesses can flourish and plans for an office corridor, a new business and learning centre and a waterfront development of quality homes are all part of realising this vision.”
WRC is focussed on attracting and delivering around £750 million in public and private sector investment over the next 10 to 15 years, creating more than 5,500 new jobs, more than 1,600 new homes and revitalising over 170 acres of land.
The company has targeted the delivery of eight major transformational projects to revitalise the town, some of which are already well underway. WRC is private sector led and driven and backed by a powerful partnership comprising Advantage West Midlands, English Partnerships and Walsall Council.
The BCABA Awards highlight the successes of the many and varied businesses operating throughout the Black Country and recognise the outstanding achievements that have been made in the Asian business community.
Awards were made in six categories:
Finalists were invited to the awards ceremony on Friday 1 September where the winners were announced.
The black tie event was hosted by Nikki Bedi, a presenter on the BBC Asian Network, and included a charity auction in aid of Wolverhampton-based charities, the Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Support programme and the Beacon Centre for the Blind.
The BCABA Awards is supported by patron Lloyds TSB and is sponsored by Black Country Chamber, Business Link, AWM and ERDF. Award sponsors include R2i, West Midlands Minority Ethnic Business Forum, Diversification Programme (programmes of AWM), City of Wolverhampton College, Stourbridge College and Future Foundations/Arc of Opportunity.
For further information please contact Nigel Pipkin or Lorna Bishop at Seal Communications on 0121 200 0780 or email nigelpipkin@sealcommunications.co.uk