Swin City Comics in Morley Street is celebrating its first year of trading with the knowledge that is has been recognised by local business as the most exciting and innovative new business in the Borough of Swindon for 2007.

The Awards ceremony took place at the official launch of the Swindon Strategic Economic Partnership (SSEP) on Wednesday 14th November - when over 120 representatives from the business community converged on the Haley Conference centre in Wroughton to not only listen to the plans the   SSEP have, but to commit to driving Swindon forward. The launch event was opened by successful local businessman and chair of the SSEP, Rikki Hunt.

The SSEP is a business-led partnership that aims to maximise Swindon's potential by bringing together key players from business and the public sector to work towards common goals. The overriding ambition of the partnership is to assert Swindon as The UK's Best Business Location.

Steve Causer co-owner of Swin City Comics, who attended the event commented: “We have had a fantastic first year and this just tops it off. When we first set up Swin City we wanted to look at how we can make it stand out in the comic book world and this proves we have done that.

“We have not just opened for business and let people come to us, but gone into the local community and worked to support what goes on and promote comic books. We have helped build a new set of books for the local libraries, run comic book courses and supported local festivals and events, as well as give away thousands of comic books to new readers,” Mr Causer added.

Winning the award came with a package of support, including a cash prize of £3,000, and membership of the new Swindon Chamber of Commerce, and the Federation of Small Businesses.

The awards were presented by Mark Beard from Beard Construction who heads up the Enterprise Group within the SSEP. Swin City were publicly invited to join this group as 2007 winners.

The role and purpose of this group is to support new and existing Small and Medium Enterprises focusing upon increasing the total number of VAT registered businesses in the Borough, and increasing the percentage of Swindon employees who are self employed. 

Vince Mancari, partner in Swin City said: “We are so proud of what we have built over the last year and for us to be recognised in this way is not only great for us as a business but great for comic book retailers.

“Comic book shops always seem to be on the outskirts of a town or city, wining this award shows that specialist shops like ours are part of the bigger business community and have pride of place in the town centre of major towns and cities, especially like Swindon, and we look forward in playing our part in the regeneration to help put Swindon well and truly on the map.”

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