Local businesses to receive £15m injection
500 newspapers - including Newbury Business Today - offer free advertising to most promising local businesses
PRIME minister David Cameron has this week praised local and regional newspapers across the country for delivering a huge boost to UK business 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 local press publications, including jointly the Newbury Weekly News and its monthly business publication Newbury Business Today, are joining forces to promote the strength and value of local newspapers for local businesses and communities.
Together, the local press industry is searching for the nation's most promising young businesses and helping them accelerate their success with top professional advice from local business mentors, plus a substantial allocation of free advertising space in their local publication – in this case Newbury Business Today.
What's more, one lucky 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.
Deborah 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.”
How you can take part?
This week the Newbury Weekly News, in partnership with Newbury Business Today, launches its ‘Local Business Accelerators' search. It's open to all businesses that are active in the local community, between one and three years old and full of potential. They may have a great idea or product, or even found a new market. They're the kind of businesses that will create new jobs and individually they will create pride in the community.
If you run such a business, or know anyone who does, and want the chance to receive invaluable business support and advertising space in Newbury Business Today, click on the link below for more information on the scheme and how to enter.
Entries close on November 14, 2011, so log on quickly to enter.
Members of the local business community and mentors for this initiative – Andrew McKenzie, Dr Anne Murdoch and Geoff Knappett – will form the judging panel, supported by Newbury News Limited journalist Richard Maynard, co-ordinator for the Newbury competition on behalf of the Newbury Weekly News and Newbury Business Today.
Three lucky winners
The judges will review and shortlist entries before awarding three lucky local businesses with the prize of free advertising in Newbury Business Today and business advice. They'll 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.
The president of the Newspaper Society, Geraldine Allinson, 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.”
David Cameron described the scheme this week as an “excellent initiative” aimed at giving practical support to small businesses across the UK.
The Prime Minister said: “In towns and cities across the country, local and regional newspapers are helping to build stronger local communities and contributing to growth by supporting local businesses. They have a major role to play in championing growth.
“I want this to be the most pro-growth Government in living memory. We are cutting red tape, cutting corporation tax, boosting tax relief for investors in start-ups and entrepreneurs, getting the banks to increase lending to small firms and supporting the banks' £2.5 billion Business Growth Fund to back established and growing businesses.
"The Local Business Accelerators campaign will help provide the boost that our smaller British businesses need right now. By joining forces to launch this excellent initiative, local newspapers are demonstrating their commitment and providing exactly the sort of practical, hands-on support that will help young local businesses succeed and grow.
"Those that will benefit from the initiative are the very businesses and entrepreneurs that will help to lead Britain's recovery. I want to thank all those involved for taking part in Local Business Accelerators and to wish you every success with this important campaign.”
