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Isle of Wight Ambassadors launch

Thursday, July 26, 2007

A brand new scheme to promote the Isle of Wight as a business destination was launched on Wednesday 18th July to around eighty of the Island’s business people.

The aim of the scheme is to build a network of business people and to raise the profile of the Isle of Wight, to help expand the economy and in turn improve local business profits.

Shirley Robertson, OBE, Double Olympic Gold Medallist was guest speaker at the launch. Shirley has been flying the flag for the Isle of Wight for several years and has brought a focus on to the Island as a centre of technical expertise for the marine industry as well as for sailing.

“I am so proud to be an Ambassador for the Isle of Wight. I came to the Island originally during to my first Olympic Campaign in Sydney 2000 because of the expertise in the marine industry …… I love it here, people are so friendly, it’s a real community and its where I want to bring up my family” said Shirley Robertson, OBE

The Ambassadors scheme is an extension of the activities most business people already do, that is, to “talk up” the Island to business contacts and encourage others to do business with local companies or invest in the Island.

The guest list included representatives from a wide range of business sectors, including tourism, leisure, marine, transport, technology and manufacturing and the organisers of the Island’s most prestigious and biggest media profile generating events: Skandia Cowes Week; The Isle of Wight Festival; the Bestival and White Air.

“There is just so much goodwill within the business sector – businesses want the Island to be successful – not only because it is good for their own business but also because there is a genuine appreciation of the Island itself” Mike King, Managing Director Isle of Wight Economic Partnership.

The Isle of Wight Economic Partnership is managing the scheme and will circulate success and messages to Ambassadors for them to pass on. Over the coming months more ambassadors will be invited to join the scheme to cover different business sectors.

Councillor David Pugh welcomed guests to the event and reiterated the importance of promoting the Island “it is the effort and innovative approach to business that has ensured the Isle of Wight has the fastest growing economy in the South East – the Council in its role as “place shapers” will help to ensure that this remains the case”

The Ambassadors scheme is part of the Isle of Wight Economic Partnership’s Inspire project which is raising the profile of the Island as a business destination. Inspire is funded by SEEDA ( South East England Development Agency) and supports the Isle of Wight Council’s work as “place shapers” of the Island.