THE Evening Gazette today announces the local businesses that have made the shortlist in our Local Business Accelerators competition.

The nationwide campaign, which was launched in October by regional and local newspapers across the country and backed by Prime Minister David Cameron and Dragon’s Den star Deborah Meaden, will see 1,500 firms receive £15m of free advertising to help boost their businesses in 2012.

Judges Chris Petty - founder of Stockton-based Cornerstone Business Solutions, Dean of Teesside University business school Alastair Thomson; Mike Matthews, the managing director of Stockton manufacturer Nifco UK and Evening Gazette Business Editor Mike Hughes - have reported that entries in Teesside were of an extremely high standard, with enthusiastic local firms recognising the benefits that local advertising can bring.

The Teesside businesses to have made our shortlist are:

Naturally Wild Consultants wildlife training company

Russelled Up mobile barista service

Fudge Fancies sweet maker

Parlour Furniture design company

Bump Buddies childbirth support

Inspire Commercial Kitchen Solutions

Much Ado About Muffins and Cafe Hardy

Turbo Connect engineering and manufacturing

CAT-UK fuel saving and emissions

Restora Holistics and Wellbeing

The firms will now be invited to pitch their business plans to our judging panel before three winners are selected.

As well as receiving top professional advice from our local business mentors, their prize also includes a substantial allocation of free advertising space in the pages of Gazette.

In addition, Deborah Meaden will also become a mentor to one business, picked from the hundreds of regional winners, providing invaluable business support throughout 2012 to drive their business forward.

The three lucky winners will be reported in the Gazette in early January.