Business

Three winners of Local Business Accelerators announced

Three winners of Local Business Accelerators announced

12th January 2012

Email: richard.maynard@newburynews.co.uk

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Praise from the Prime Minister

PRIME Minister David Cameron has highlighted the role of the local newspaper industry in supporting British business on the day that regional and local newspapers announce the winners of Local Business Accelerators.
Yesterday (Wednesday) the Prime Minister today extended his congratulations to the winning businesses who will receive a substantial allocation of free advertising in their local newspaper and mentoring from local business leaders.
Mr Cameron said: "Congratulations to all the winners of the Local Business Accelerators scheme. It's brilliant that so many promising young companies, from such a wide range of sectors, are benefitting from this excellent initiative.
"Entrepreneurship, creativity and ambition are essential for our economic recovery and through Local Business Accelerators, newspapers such as the Newbury Weekly News are supporting some great new British businesses to grow, and helping to boost their local economy.
"I wish the newspapers, businesses and their mentors every success over the coming months."
Later in the year, one business will go on to be crowned the overall Local Business Accelerators winner and receive mentoring from the campaign’s national ambassador Deborah Meaden, of Dragon’s Den.
Backed by high profile figures including the Prime Minster and the CBI’s John Cridland, the campaign has seen the local newspaper industry come together to deliver a shot in the arm for British business.
Local Business Accelerators has also received the support of Stephen Welton, Business Growth Fund chief executive, who said the initiative was providing a “powerful boost” to young businesses.
Mr Welton said: “I am delighted to lend my support to the Local Business Accelerators initiative which is offering a powerful boost to young businesses throughout the UK.
“Clearly economic conditions continue to be challenging; but we need businesses to be considering the opportunities and focusing on what they can influence. When growth is harder to achieve, history tells us that the most successful companies are not those with defensive strategies.”
The Business Growth Fund has contributed to Local Business Accelerators by offering a series of free half day workshop sessions at its regional centres to winning businesses.
Mr Welton added: “Our workshops will help business owners to think about how they can expand; how they can reach new audiences and new markets; how they can begin exporting; and how they can raise the capital that they might need to fund their ambitions.
“The question that BGF will be addressing in 2012 is how best can we find, encourage and support ambitious business owners. The Local Business Accelerators scheme is playing a vital role in furthering this ambition."
The three businesses chosen by the Newbury Weekly News are: Provide SESS, Adam Hillier Photograpy, and Mrs Jones Bridal Boutique. They will now receive mentoring from Newbury College principal Anne Murdoch, Donnington Valley Hotel managing director Andrew McKenzie and Newbury Building society director Geoff Knappett, and a package of advertising in the Newbury Weekly News.