Top Award For Isle Of Wight Lottery

Wed 1 Feb 2012

The IW Lottery has come out on top in a national award presentation.
The Lottery was honoured at the inaugural Community Development Finance Association (cdfa) awards in London yesterday, when it was presented with the Innovation in Reaching New Markets award.
The Lottery is the first in England to be developed specially to create employment, and people who buy a £1 a week ticket help fund interest free loans to Island businesses.
Since it was founded 10 years ago, the Lottery has supported entrepreneurs on the Island, creating and sustaining more than 1,000 jobs, and has given out almost £1.25million in prize money.
Kevin Smith, Chief Executive of the IW Chamber of Commerce – of which the Lottery is a subsidiary – said: “We’re proud of the fact that the Lottery is different. It plays an important part in the Island’s economic development, creating Island jobs for Island people.
“We have certainly made a difference over the years. The IW Lottery also funds a Start Up Business training programme which has supported more than 500 people going into self employment.
“It’s great to win this award, although it actually belongs to the 5,000 people who subscribe to the IW Lottery every week, and the businesses that they have helped create and maintain.”