NEWSPAPERS across the UK have joined forces to boost the growth of the economy by pledging an unprecedented £15m of free advertising to the most dynamic fledgling enterprises.
The bold initiative, backed by Dragons’ Den judge, Deborah Meaden, is called Local Business Accelerators and is being spearheaded by the voice of local media, the Newspaper Society.
Nearly 500 regional and local publications including The Journal and Evening Gazette have launched the campaign to promote the strength and value of newspapers for local businesses and communities.
The regional press will search for the nation’s most promising young businesses and help them accelerate their success with professional advice from business mentors plus a substantial allocation of free advertising space in their local newspaper.
And one business picked from the hundreds of regional winners will get individual mentoring sessions from the LBA national ambassador Deborah Meaden, who will become a consultant and mentor to the business for one year.
Meaden said: “I’ve seen the unique contribution that local press makes to the success of local businesses time and again with my own ventures.
“In this age of enterprise it has never been more important to drive awareness about the value of local marketing for a fledgling business, which is why I’m so proud to support Local Business Accelerators and help build thriving and industrious communities.”
Today The Journal and Evening Gazette begin the search for young businesses with big potential. We are looking for North East companies, between one and three years old, which have the makings of a big success.
They may have a great idea or product or have found a new market. They are the type of business that will create jobs and the kind of success that will make the region proud.
If you run such a business, or know anyone who does, and want the chance to receive invaluable business support and advertising space in The Journal or Evening Gazette, visit www.accelerateme.co.uk for more information on the scheme and how to enter. Entries close 14th November 2011.
Experienced businessmen Alan Hall, Geoff Hodgson and Alan Holmes and Journal business editor Iain Laing will form the judging panel and will review and shortlist entries before awarding three firms with the prize of free advertising and business advice. They will also be looking out for that one overall star business to put forward to be in with a chance to gain Deborah Meaden as a mentor during 2012.
Laing said: “This is a fantastic way of highlighting the potential success stories in North East business and giving promising companies real help to grow in an extremely challenging economic environment.
"We want to hear from companies with the potential to realise their big ambitions and show the UK what the North East is made of."
For the Evening Gazette, Chris Petty - founder of Stockton-based Cornerstone Business Solutions, Dean of Teesside University business school Alastair Thomson and Mike Matthews, the managing director of Stockton manufacturer Nifco UK, will form the judging panel alongside Evening Gazette Business Editor Mike Hughes.
They will award three local businesses with the prize of free advertising and business advice and will be looking out for that one overall star business to put forward to be in with a chance to gain Deborah Meaden as a mentor.
Geraldine Allinson, president of the Newspaper Society, said: “The UK needs to grow local businesses like never before, and local businesses need local press. No other medium has the power, local knowledge and influence to activate a scheme like Local Business Accelerators. It’s where local newspapers have always made a real difference: by helping to build strong local businesses and encourage thriving communities.”
:: If you run such a business, or know anyone who does, visit www.accelerateme.co.uk for more information on the scheme and how to enter. Entries close on November 14th 2011. ::
Page 2: The mentors >>