Wirral businesses invited to win a Dragon's backing (From Wirral Globe)

Wirral businesses invited to win a Dragon's backing

9:50am Thursday 4th October 2012 in News

THE Wirral Globe is joining forces with more than 500 other newspapers across the UK for the second Local Business Accelerators campaign.

It launches this week and follows the successful debut last year.

Again backed by Deborah Meaden, of Dragon’s Den, Prime Minister David Cameron and the Governor of the Bank of England Mervyn King, the national winner can secure a year’s mentoring with Deborah and an advertising campaign devised by a top London creative ad agency.

LBA national ambassador Deborah Meaden said: “With last year’s LBA having demonstrated the unique power of local and regional press to provide a meaningful boost to promising young businesses, I am delighted to be supporting the initiative once again.

“The campaign provided tangible examples of the real contribution that local newspapers can provide to young businesses across many different sectors, accelerating their development.

“Enterprise and entrepreneurism in the local community is more important than ever before 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 expanded to take on two new employees since taking part in the initiative.

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).

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

More than 500 daily and weekly local newspaper titles are registered to take part in LBA which aims to highlight how local newspapers can provide a meaningful boost to young businesses.

Last year’s Wirral winners were Apollo Care, Cheeky Charlie’s sweetshop and home-made jam makers Mama Jamias.