TV business star to help drive growth for Enterprise

Business star Rachel Elnaugh, one of Britain’s highest profile female entrepreneurs, is to join the Enterprise North East Trust as its first ever board appointment outside the Grampian area.

Rachel, famous for her role on the BBC’s hit business show Dragons’ Den, will help Enterprise as it looks to expand outside Scotland.

Enterprise offers a range of support services for new and existing businesses and delivers Business Gateway services on behalf of Scottish Enterprise Grampian. It also runs serviced business centres across the north east from Inverness to Fraserburgh and Aberdeen.

Chris Travis, chief executive of Enterprise North East Trust says, "Rachel joins at the beginning of an exciting period of change when we are looking to grow Enterprise internally and externally. Rachel will help the board explore opportunities to expand outside Scotland as well as develop its existing outsourced business contracts for Scottish Enterprise.

Aside from her role on Dragons’ Den, Rachel is famous for founding Britain’s "gift experiences" market which is now worth £200 million annually to the travel and leisure industry. She recently launched The Life Changers, with her first business CD "Escape The Rat Race", which provides advice and inspiration for budding entrepreneurs.

Chris adds, "We first met with Rachel when she was keynote speaker at the 2006 Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise. During conversations with her at the Awards it was clear that her successful career and entrepreneurial spirit would make her an ideal candidate to work with Enterprise. We see Rachel playing an instrumental role in the Trust’s development. Her own experience of establishing and growing a multi million pound business as well as being a mentor to a number of small businesses, means Rachel can bring with her a wealth of experience and knowledge to assist Enterprise’s commercial growth. Rachel will be working closely with the management team to identify new markets where our skills and expertise can be deployed.

"Enterprise’s purpose is to support and invest in the creation and development of profitable businesses in Grampian. During 2005/2006 financial year whilst delivering the Business Gateway contract Enterprise is proud to have helped in excess of 950 new businesses to start in the north east, these organisations ranged from oil and gas companies to those involved in haulage, farming and manufacturing. We aim to build on our past successes by looking for opportunities in the wider UK area. We look forward to welcoming Rachel to the board and working with her to ensure that Enterprise continues to meet the needs of new and growing businesses."

Rachel Elnaugh says, "During the past year I have devoted much of my time to encouraging and supporting enterprise and entrepreneurship throughout the UK. I have spoken to hundreds of small business owners at events around the country including six events in Scotland and I am also a mentor to a number of small businesses. I am delighted that Enterprise has asked me to join theirboard to help them develop their services to business not just in Scotland but throughout the UK. I also hope that my profile will help encourage more

people to consider setting up their own business and raise awareness of the services whichEnterprise can offer to aspiring entrepreneurs."

Steve Cook, chairman says, "As one of Britain’s highest profile entrepreneurs, Rachel Elnaugh is an extremely enthusiastic and dynamic person who demonstrates true entrepreneurial spirit and drive. Rachel’s real life experience of the highs and the lows of business and her broad knowledge of the UK marketplace will assist Enterprise in its growth across Scotland and beyond."

Enterprise North East Trust (Enterprise) offers a one-stop-shop service to the business community across the north east, including delivery of the Business Gateway services on behalf of Scottish Enterprise Grampian. For further details on Enterprise contact www.enetrust.com or call 01467 672500.

Rachel will join chairman, Steve Cook of Linkfleet Limited, vice chairman Mike Brown of Anderson Anderson Brown, board members including, John Cox of the Fife Lodge Hotel, John Paterson of Montrose Port Authority, Gordon Murray ofFirst e-business, Stuart Oag of Stuart Milne Homes, and local councillors on the independent board, which meets monthly.

For more information contact:

Laura Cox, Senior Account Executive,
Tricker PR
Telephone: 01224 646491
Direct: 01224 654081
Email: lcox@trickerpr.com