Press releases

2 November 2004

Hoxton Bibliotech Confirmed As London's Premier Business Support Agency

Hoxton Bibliotech's status as the capital's leading Business Support Agency was confirmed last week with a special award in the Enterprising London competition run by the London Development Agency.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown has congratulated Hoxton Bibliotech on being one of the first four award winners in the competition.

The company beat off stiff competition from a number of other business support organisations around the capital to become the first runner up in the competition organised by the London Development Agency, the Mayor's agency for business and jobs.

Congratulating the company, Mr Brown said: "I congratulate Hoxton Bibliotech on winning the first runner up prize for the London region. I am absolutely delighted at the degree of interest this competition has generated. To build a truly enterprising culture in Britain we must open up enterprise to all. This competition will recognise the contributions of enterprise and the enterprising throughout the UK.

"We know how much stronger our economy and our society will be if we release all the dynamism, creativity and potential of all our people to become more enterprising, contributing to a change in culture and attitudes by valuing and celebrating the spirit of enterprise throughout our towns and cities.

"Throughout the world, Britain is recognised as a country of enterprise fired by innovation, fuelled by hard work and driven by entrepreneurial spirit."

Melbourne Barrett, LDA Director of Business Development, added: "Hoxton Bibliotech have contributed a great deal to the regeneration and growth of Hackney as a strong business community. This is in line with LDA's Economic Development Strategy to maintain London as one of the world's leading cities based on strong long-term economic growth and social inclusion."

Presenting the award on the evening was 3 times Olympic gold medal winner Matthew Pinsent with the BBC's Natasha Kaplinski. Neil Barklem, Hoxton Bibliotech's CEO, said of the award, "This is a true recognition of Hoxton Bibliotech's vital role in the growth of business in the borough of Hackney and beyond. This award, coupled with November's launch of the Hackney Enterprise Network, will help us take massive strides towards making Hackney one of the most popular places in London to start and grow a business."

Company Background:

Hoxton Bibliotech was established in 1995 and has become a major business support and training resource for new and established businesses in North East London and for individuals seeking to develop their careers. The quality of its offer is high and is validated by regular independent audits and quality standards including Investors in People, Customer First and the IAG Matrix.

As a consistently successful business support and training company, Hoxton Bibliotech has ranked highly in the Treasury-backed Inner City 100 Index of the nation's most successful regeneration companies for the last three years.

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