The SWAN Rural Enterprise Centre, a Community Interest Company (CIC), located on Pury Hill Business Park fought off strong competition to winning Enterprising Business of the Year at the prestigious Business Excellence Awards in Daventry. The centre was able to meet the criteria of the award as an organisation which embraces an 'enterprising culture' and can provide results of successes due to a positive attitude towards 'enterprise'. In the space of just over a year has seen the (South and West Northamptonshire) SWAN partnership develop and launch the SWAN Rural Enterprise Centre as a Community Interest Company.   This journey started back at the end of October 2009 when the partnership successfully bid for funding through the “Catapulting Kids Further” initiative funded by the East Midlands Development Agency. The original funding was to fit a professional chef’s kitchen in an off site school premises which would offer training and real work experiences to students which match the rural economy in this part of the county.  Working with a range of partners the kitchen was fitted into premises on a rural business park and now boasts a professional kitchen, The Cygnets Bistro and Enterprise Room. For more information about the SWAN Rural Enterprise Centre and what it is offering to local schools, businesses and the community visit their web site http://www.swancic.co.uk

Heather Payne