news desk
June 2007
THE BOLD VENTURERS:
a celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit in England's Northwest
This large format photo/essay book is a collaboration with the North West Regional Development Agency and will put the focus on entrepreneurs from or operating in the Northwest of England.
IN collaboration with the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) - and a number of other strategic corporate partners - Cities500 International Publishers is delighted to announce that it is to publish a lavish photo-essay book that celebrates the lively spirit of entrepreneurship that exists in the Northwest of England.
The book - The Bold Venturers - will profile 40 + leading entrepreneurs, either operating in the region or who originate from it and who enjoy a national or international reputation. It will be distributed throughout the Northwest.
This 200+ page, high quality hardback book (with a full colour laminated jacket), will feature a series of fascinating essay profiles linked to a panoramic photographic spread of an elite number of people who have made a contribution to the success and economic stability of this most diverse and complex region of the United Kingdom.
It will be a demonstration of the culture of enterprise that is encouraged to flourish across the social, gender, age and racial spectrum. Yet as well as being a celebration, it will be a permanent record of that success.
The essence of this book is to focus on those who have demonstrated proven entrepreneurial skills and flair - who have risen to the challenge, tackled the difficulties head on, faced formidable obstacles and still triumphed. It is largely a tribute to their determination and self-motivation, driven by ambition and talent.
The book will also contain a 2,500 word essay about that culture of enterprise in the Northwest contributed by an NWDA expert plus a 1,500 word essay about business and enterprise in general to be contributed by a business-enterprise VIP.
It will have forewords by Chancellor Gordon Brown, Stephen Broomhead, the chief executive of the NWDA, Bryan Gray the NWDA's chairman, and the Duke of Westminster in his capacity as Life President of the North West Business Leadership Team. We also envisage a series of short endorsements about the need for enterprise skills from such business luminaries as Stuart Chambers, chairman of the NWBLT and group chief executive of Pilkington plc, the director of the CBI, the president of the British Chambers of Commerce and the president of the Institute of Directors. There will be a similar endorsement from Professor Michael Luger, the USA born and trained director of the Manchester Business School.
The NWDA recognises that the region needs young people with their energy and ambitions who are and will be inspirational enough to drive the Northwest?s growth in the 21st century. Entrepreneurship is essential to a successful economy and the importance of promoting an enterprising culture throughout the region at all levels, particularly amongst young people, is one of the agency's main platforms.
And the profiles in this book will be a reflection of the government's determination to increase entrepreneurship in the UK by inspiration, challenge and role models through such projects as the Enterprising Britain 2006 competition and Enterprise Week 2006, which were designated as a national celebration of enterprise to encourage young people to make their ideas happen.
Chancellor Gordon Brown says: 'We need to value, reward and celebrate young people who are involved in enterprise. How else can we inspire new talents to grow? We are sending a message around the world that Britain seeks to encourage, challenge and inspire our young people to make the most of their talents and be all that they can be.'
The Bold Venturers book will be published in 2007.