Last updated at 10:43, Friday, 05 October 2012

Business brain: Dragon’s Den investor Deborah Meaden is supporting Local Business Accelerators.

THOUSANDS of pounds of free advertising in Cumbria's newspapers are up for grabs in the second search for the best new businesses in the county.

Dozens of the businesses entered the Local Business Accelerators competition which is supported by The Cumberland News, News & Star, North West Evening Mail, Times & Star and The Whitehaven News along with in-cumbria.com.

The competition is open to businesses aged between one and five years and has been described as a ‘£15m boost’ for young business through free advertising and mentoring.

The campaign, is supported by the Government and private sector’s Business in You campaign and backed by the Prime Minister David Cameron as well as the Governor of the Bank of England Mervyn King. 

Businesses aged between one and five years old can enter LBA for the chance to win a free ad campaign in their local paper plus mentoring support from local business leaders.

The most promising businesses will go forward to the national stage of the competition to win a year’s mentoring from Deborah Meaden and a local advertising campaign devised by a top London creative ad agency.

Last year’s winners have said the competition not only helped lighten their advertising expenditure but gave them a much needed boost amid one of the toughest recessions in years.

Angus Duncan, who runs the Cumbrian Pig Company, has urged new businesses to take part and said the advice he received from mentor Mike Armstead was priceless.

“I still see Mike and it was great to get help from somebody with that amount of experience.

“It was really good and for somebody who is just starting out that sort of guidance would be perfect,” said Mr Duncan.

Businesses need to enter by  November 16.

If you run a business and want the chance to receive invaluable business support and advertising space in the Evening Mail, visit www.accelerateme.co.uk for more information.

Timetable: 

October 3 to November 16: Entry open

November 28: Shortlist announced

November 28 to February 6:Selection process

February 6: Three winners announced

February to May: Three months worth of business mentoring and advertising.

First published at 22:56, Thursday, 04 October 2012
Published by http://www.in-cumbria.com