Local Business Accelerators - FAQs

What is Local Business Accelerators (LBA)?

LBA is an initiative from the regional and local press to boost local businesses.

£15 million of free advertising will be given to the very best fledgling businesses across the UK who will also receive mentoring support from local business leaders.

Who can enter?

It’s open to all businesses that are active in the local community, between one and three years old.

How can people enter?

Businesses can enter using the entry form on this site.

NB Entries for Local Business Accelerators have now closed.

When is the deadline?

Deadline for entries is 14 November 2011.

How many winners are there?

Each regional newspaper will select up to three businesses to receive free advertising and mentoring support, so around 1,500 business are expected to benefit from LBA..

Who will select the overall winner?

The Newspaper Society and Deborah Meaden, from Dragons’ Den, will review all the regional winners and select the one entry they feel most deserves to win the personal mentoring prize.

  • 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)