Local Business Accelerators application

Please note that entries have now closed.

Welcome to the Local Business Accelerators application page. We'll need you to fill in a few details and then tell us a bit about your business. Thank you and good luck!

In addition to the main prize of a year's mentoring from Deborah Meaden and a free ad campaign in their local paper, this year's LBA overall winner will take home:

£10,000 cash sum from the Business Growth Fund
One year's free membership of the CBI
Free business advice from the ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales) valued at £2,000
An iPad from Freeagent
Free business broadband and wifi access for a year and the design and management of a website from BT

Freeagent is also offering a year’s free access to its accountancy software to each of the national finalists, valued at £300 per finalist.

Please note that you may only make one application to one local newspaper to be part of LBA.

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter for the latest news and updates on LBA @acceleratelocal.

If you have any difficulty filling in this form or if you cannot find your local title on the dropdown menu, please get in touch via lba@newspapersoc.org.uk.

Name of business: *

Your name: *

Business category: *

Newspaper title: *

Please select the title where you saw the LBA advertisement. Your business must be based in this newspaper's circulation area.

Business email: *

Business postal address: *

Business website address:

Business telephone number: *

Trading start date: *

Your business must be between one and five years old to enter LBA.

Turnover: *

What was turnover for the financial year ending in April 2012?

Has your business previously advertised in regional press: *

What is the biggest success your business has enjoyed so far: *

Why would your business in particular benefit from free local newspaper advertising and mentoring: *

How many employees do you have: *

Do you have employer's liability insurance: *

Yes

Are you VAT registered: *

Yes

Please help us understand a bit more about your business by completing the following short questionnaire.

Is there sufficient support for businesses in your area:

Would information, help or guidance in any of the areas below be beneficial to your business:

If so, please select one or more of the below.

Finance

Employment

Mentoring

Export

How do you believe your business will perform in the next year:

Choose one of the following:

I agree to my details being shared with third parties and to participate in any publicity activities related to the LBA campaign.

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)