News Letter announces the winning companies
Adrienne McGill, News Letter business editor is joined by fellow judges and mentors Shane Hall, director with business advisors BDO, Mervyn McCaughey, managing director Fivemiletown Creamery and Derek Quinn Commercial Lines director Hughes Insurance.
The News Letter is today delighted to announce the three young Northern Ireland businesses who have come top in the Local Business Accelerators (LBA) competition which is being run in association with the Newspaper Society.
Boozeberries, Heavenly Tasty Organics and Digitalcloudart.com, selected from a short list of ten firms, have been awarded a substantial allocation of free advertising in the News Letter and mentoring from several of Northern Ireland’s leading business figures.
The mentors Mervyn McCaughey, managing director Fivemiletown Creamery, Derek Quinn Commercial Lines director Hughes Insurance, and Shane Hall, director with business advisors BDO joined Adrienne McGill, News Letter business editor on the judging panel to select the winners.
Commenting on the calibre of entries Adrienne McGill said: “The range of sectors and diversity of products and services were very impressive and we had a very difficult task in making a final decision. However, the three winning companies have a firm platform on which to build and have very definite plans about their future.
“Very often young businesses don’t have the opportunity to receive mentoring from established business leaders who are experts in their field nor do they have the funds for advertising, so the LBA campaign opens the door to this.”
Prime Minister David Cameron, who is backing the campaign, highlighted the role of the local newspaper industry in supporting UK business as regional and local newspapers across the UK today announced the winners of Local Business Accelerators in their area.
He extended his congratulations to all the winning businesses who will receive free advertising in their local newspaper and mentoring from local business figures.
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 News Letter, 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 Dragons’ Den.
Backed by high profile figures including 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 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.”
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
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