Local papers join forces with Deborah Meaden to launch Local Business Accelerators (From Barry And District News)

Local papers join forces with Deborah Meaden to launch Local Business Accelerators

9:00am Sunday 7th October 2012 in News

AS the local newspaper industry launches its acclaimed Local Business Accelerators campaign led by Deborah Meaden of Dragon's Den, new research shows that Britain's young businesses are positive about prospects for growth despite tough economic times - but they still need advice and support.

The campaign, supported by the Government and private sector's Business in You campaign and backed by Prime Minister David Cameron and the Governor of the Bank of England Mervyn King, launched on October 3.

Over 500 newspapers across the UK are joining forces to deliver a £15 million boost to promising young businesses through free advertising and mentoring. 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.

LBA national ambassador Deborah Meaden said: "Last year's LBA demonstrated the unique power of local and regional press to provide a meaningful boost to promising young businesses.

"Enterprise and entrepreneurism in the local community is more important than ever, and I look forward to finding another young business to mentor and drive forward."

Last year's overall LBA winner, Ilkley Brewery in Yorkshire, which is currently receiving mentoring support from Deborah, saw its orders in Leeds double as a result of the free LBA ad campaign in its local paper, and the business has expanded to take on two new employees.

Research conducted by Toluna and campaign organisers the Newspaper Society reveals that a third of owners of young businesses expect some or significant growth in the next 12 months (35 per cent) with the majority saying they expected their businesses to perform at the same level (53 per cent).

Just 12 per cent said they expected decline. They cited high rent and rates, sluggish consumer demand, access to affordable finance, and access to advice as the biggest barriers for local businesses.

Owners were most likely to use local newspapers to advertise (22 per cent), followed by internet (15 per cent) and directories (14 per cent). Local newspapers were cited as the most effective of all forms of advertising (49 per cent), followed by outdoor/point of sale (48 per cent) and internet (45 per cent).

Prime Minister David Cameron said: "The LBA campaign has provided tremendous support to fledgling businesses across the country and I am delighted that it will be running for a second year.

"Local newspapers play a vital role in their communities and are uniquely placed to support small businesses, giving them the boost that they need to grow, which is good for local areas and good for the economy as a whole."

First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones, said: "The need to offer meaningful, practical support to promising young businesses is extremely important at the moment, and Local Business Accelerators is an excellent example of this support in action."

Businesses aged between one and five years can enter the competition via the LBA hub - www.accelerateme.co.uk - before the closing date of November 16.