Local businesses in with a chance to win free adverts

The nationwide campaign, which was launched in October by regional and local newspapers across the country and backed by Prime Minister David Cameron and Dragon’s Den star Deborah Meaden, will see 1,500 firms receive £15m of free advertising to help boost their businesses in 2012.

The east Antrim businesses to have made the LBA shortlist are:

n Glassmedic, Larne

n Navyblur, Broughshane

n Veetoo, Newtownabbey

n The Laundry Room, Whitehead

n Indulge, Larne and Ballyclare

n Dundonald Agencies, Ballyclare

Out of these shortlisted businesses, one lucky winner will be announced in January. As well as receiving top professional advice from our local business mentors, the winner’s prize also includes a substantial allocation of free advertising space in the pages of the Larne, Carrick and Newtownabbey Times.

In addition, Deborah Meaden will also become a mentor to one overall business, picked from the hundreds of regional winners, providing invaluable business support throughout 2012 to drive their business forward.

Valerie Martin, editor of the Larne, Carrick and Newtownabbey Times thanked all those local firms who had taken the time to enter the Local Business Accelerators campaign.

“There has been an amazing response and it really shows the incredible variety and entrepreneurship right on our doorstep here in east Antrim.

“Our winner will receive a great prize package of free advertising and editorial to really give the business a fantastic boost, alongside invaluable expert mentoring support from the team at local enterprise agency LEDCOM, I am delighted that LEDCOM is working alongside us in this campaign to help drive forward the success of local businesses.”

The winner will be announced in the Larne, Carrick and Newtownabbey Times on January 12.