HAVE you got a dynamic fledgling business? Would you like free advertising and mentoring from leading business figures? If so, then this initiative is perfect for you!

Local newspapers across the UK – including the Sale and Altrincham Messenger – have pledged an unprecedented £15m worth of free advertising to the most dynamic fledgling enterprises.

The initiative, backed by Dragons’ Den judge Deborah Meaden, pictured, is called Local Business Accelerators and is being spearheaded by the Newspaper Society.

Together, the local press industry will search for the nation’s most promising young businesses and help them accelerate their success with top professional advice from business mentors plus a substantial allocation of free advertising space in their local publication.

The competition is open to all businesses that are between one and three-years-old. They may have a great idea or product, or even found a new market. They are the kind of businesses that will create new jobs and individually they will create pride in the community.

So if you run such a business in Trafford, or know anyone who does, and want the chance to receive invaluable business support and advertising space in SAM visit accelerate.co.uk for more information.

Entries close on Monday, November 14.

Barbara Hallwood, from Marketing Profile, Martin Duff, managing director of Randalls Ltd, plus SAM editor Carla Flynn, and advertisement manager Chris Jennings, will form the judging panel and will review and shortlist entries before awarding three lucky local businesses with the prize of free advertising and business advice.

They will also be looking out for that one overall star business to put forward to be in with a chance to gain Deborah Meaden as a mentor during 2012.

Jeremy Hunt, who is backing the campaign along with the Prime Minister David Cameron, said: “This is a fantastic initiative by the Newspaper Society, which will make a real difference to new companies up and down the country.

“It will help hundreds of small businesses establish themselves, helping to grow our economy and create jobs. This really shows the incredibly valuable role that local newspapers play in their local communities.”

The Culture Secretary’s backing for Local Business Accelerators comes as the milestone of 1,000 applications from young UK businesses was reached with two weeks still to go until the deadline.