Search on for region’s fastest movers

The Local Business Accelerators scheme, backed by Prime Minister David Cameron and supported by this newspaper, is open to firms aged between one and five years which are active in Yorkshire. The campaign, organised by the Newspaper Society, is being replicated by more than 500 newspapers across the UK and the value of the advertising prize across all titles is calculated to be £15m.

Local Business Accelerators national ambassador Deborah Meaden, of TV’s Dragons’ Den, will provide a year’s mentoring to the overall national winner, chosen from the regional finalists. It will also receive a local advertising campaign devised by a top London creative agency.

Last year, which marked the inaugural Local Business Accelerators competition, Yorkshire-based Ilkley Brewery was crowned overall winner, having been backed by the Yorkshire Post. Chris Ives, managing director of the brewery, urged businesses to enter.

The Yorkshire-based business mentors are Paul Ayre, managing partner of law firm Gordons, based in Leeds and Bradford, Roger Marsh, senior partner at PwC in Leeds, and John Hooper, director for Yorkshire Bank.

To find out more about the campaign, turn to Page 6.