Firms have one week to enter Local Business Accelerators
There is just one week left for new Kent businesses to put
their names in the hat for a prize which could kick start a
profitable year.
More than 1,100 businesses have already entered the Local
Business Accelerators, which will give deserving companies free
advertising in their local newspaper and mentoring from business
experts.
The KM Group is among hundreds of regional papers offering free
advertising to local winners. But potential entrants must hurry, as
the closing date is Friday, November 16.
BT is the latest organisation to throw its weight behind the
national campaign, offering free business broadband and wifi access
for a year, as part of the prize for the overall winner.
One business will be crowned the overall LBA winner in 2013,
scooping the grand prize of mentoring from Dragon’s Den’s Deborah
Meaden, the campaign’s national ambassador, plus another free ad
campaign in their local paper, and a host of other prizes.
The three Kent winners will be chosen
from a shortlist of 12 firms that will be announced later this
month.
Minister for Business and Enterprise, Sevenoaks MP Michael
Fallon, has written to all regional newspaper editors explaining
his endorsement for LBA.
The letter says: “You are in a unique position and have the
ability to reach the 4.8 million small and medium sized firms in
the UK, their employees and their customers who support your local
economy – the people who read local newspapers every week.”
Businesses between one and five years old can enter LBA at
www.accelerateme.co.uk.
The overall winning package:
- Mentoring from the campaign's national ambassador Deborah
Meaden of Dragon's Den
- A free ad campaign in their local paper designed by a top
London ad agency
- A £10,000 cash sum from the Business Growth Fund
- One year's free membership of the CBI
- Free business advice from the Institute of Chartered
Accountants in England & Wales valued at £2,000
- An iPad from Freeagent who are also offering a year’s free
access to its accountancy software to each of the national
finalists, valued at £300 per finalist
- Free business broadband and wifi access for a year from BT for
the overall winner, including wireless router and free
installation, and the design and management of a website with
ecommerce if required.
09/11/12
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