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Last chance to earn a free boost for budding business [South Wales Evening Post (Wales)](South Wales Evening Post (Wales) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) CALLING all young businesses looking for free advertising and mentoring. Today is the final day for entries to the Local Business Accelerators (LBA) competition which is supported by the South Wales Evening Post and offers just that. Entries are being taken online for the competition which has received backing from business gurus such as Dragons' Den star Deborah Meaden and political heavyweights including Prime Minister David Cameron. The overall winner will receive free membership of the CBI for a year, free business advice from the ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales) valued at Pounds 2,000, and an iPad from Freeagent, which is also offering a year's free access to its accountancy software to each of the national finalists, valued at Pounds 300 per finalist. The campaign's main prize comes in the form of mentoring from LBA national ambassador Deborah Meaden, of Dragons' Den, and a free advertising campaign, with the Business Growth Fund also contributing a Pounds 10,000 cash sum for the overall winner. Michael Fallon, Minister for Business and Enterprise, is the latest to lend his support to the LBA and said: "The Government is proud to support the Local Business Accelerators initiative which highlights the important role that local papers can play in working with businesses in their area. "There are around 4.8 million small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK. That's around 99 per cent of all businesses." BT has become the latest high-profile organisation to add to the prize package for the overall winner. The communications giant has come on board to offer free business broadband and wifi access for a year, including wireless router and free installation, and the design and management of a website, with e-commerce if required. Businesses can enter the LBA competition in their local newspaper via the LBA hub online at www.accelerateme.co.uk. (c) 2012 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved. |