Welcome to Local Business Accelerators

The twelve regional finalists for the LBA competition have now been announced:

  • Border, Solway Communications, Cumberland News
  • Central and Northern Scotland, eteaket, Edinburgh Evening News
  • East of England, Indigo Swan, Eastern Daily Press
  • London, Gadgets4everyone, Maidenhead Advertiser
  • Midlands, Alexander Daniels, Birmingham Post
  • North East, Fudge Fancies, Middlesbrough Evening Gazette 
  • North West, Source Science, Lancashire Telegraph
  • Northern Ireland, Boozeberries, Ulster News Letter 
  • South West, Glow Maternity, North Devon Journal
  • Southern, Ebox Media, Kent Messenger
  • Wales & The West, Fullerton and Hamblin Ltd, Salisbury Journal
  • Yorkshire, The Ilkley Brewery, Yorkshire Post

Full press release: Top Young Firms Make Local Business Accelerators Shortlist

About Local Business Accelerators

Every day local newspapers are helping to generate business in their communities.

33 million people up and down the country rely on their local newspapers to learn about products and services in their areas. What’s more, 60% of readers act on the advertising within those newspapers.

Local Business Accelerators is a groundbreaking national initiative that harnesses the power of local newspapers to give a much needed boost to local economies.

  • 32.9 million people read a local newspaper every week, making it the most widely read print medium in Britain. (BMRB/TGI 2011)
  • 71% of adults read a local newspaper. (BMRB/TGI 2011)
  • Over 60% of people act on the ads in local newspapers. (Crowd DNA/Loving Local 2011)
  • Local press is the most effective media channel for generating word of mouth conversations. (IPA Touchpoints 3 2010)