ledgling companies in the Bradford area have just a few days left to enter the Local Business Accelerators competition – which will result in three businesses each receiving free advertising worth around £10,000 and the support of an experienced business mentor.

The deadline for entries is Monday, November 14, for the project, which also has the backing of Prime Minister David Cameron.

Firms of between one and three years old have been urged by former Dragon’s Den judge Deborah Meaden, national ambassador for the programme, to get involved.

She said: “Local Business Accelerators is the perfect opportunity to drive your business to success. With only a few days before entries close, I’m calling on businesses in the Bradford area to get involved.

“I’ve got a simple message for businesses in Bradford – don’t miss this great opportunity! Free advertising in the Telegraph & Argus and invaluable mentoring advice to kickstart your business is not to be thrown away.

“So if you’re a business that’s between one and three years old, with a great idea that wants to succeed, enter to be in with a chance of building a better future for both your business and the local community.”

The Telegraph & Argus is one of 500 local press publications which have joined forces to promote the strength and value of local newspapers for local businesses and communities.

The LBA project provides a way for regional and local newspapers across the country to deliver a huge boost to UK business by pledging an unprecedented £15 million of free advertising to the most dynamic fledgling enterprises.

The Local Business Accelerators initiative is being spearheaded by the voice of local media, the Newspaper Society, which is seeking the nation’s most promising young businesses to help them accelerate their success.

One lucky business picked from the hundreds of regional winners will get individual mentoring sessions from Deborah Meaden, who will become a consultant and mentor to the business for one year.

Deborah Meaden said: “In this age of enterprise it has never been more important to drive awareness about the value of local marketing for a fledgling business, which is why I’m so proud to support Local Business Accelerators and help build thriving and industrious communities.”

Local entries will be judged by business leaders Iain Cornish, chief executive of Yorkshire Building Society, Andrew Mason, managing director of Newmason Properties, and Michael Ziff, chief executive of BPL Shoes Ltd, along with T&A Business Reporter Chris Holland.

They will review and shortlist entries before awarding three local businesses with the prize of free advertising and business advice. They’ll also be looking out for one business to put forward to be in with a chance to gain Deborah Meaden as a mentor during 2012.

T&A Editor Perry Austin-Clarke said: “This is a fantastic project which we are more than happy to support. Small businesses are a vital driver of recovery as we come out of the recession, and anything we can do to help them is important.”

Iain Cornish said: “It’s a great opportunity to provide some advice that will help put emerging local businesses on the path to success. In the difficult economic climate it’s more important than ever to support small firms, which play an increasingly vital part in both the UK and local economy. If through mentoring one of the selected firms I can help it move on to the next step, then that will be very satisfying.”

Andrew Mason said: “I was delighted and flattered to be asked to be a mentor for the Local Business Accelerator. I think it’s a fantastic initiative, with local media all over the country getting together to support local businesses. We all need help and support at some stage, and if passing on common sense and knowledge from my own business experience can help a local firm to develop, then that will be really good.”

Michael Ziff said: “I think this initiative is a great opportunity to both help local entrepreneurs in these difficult times in which we are all trying to succeed and promote Bradford as an important business area. Anything which will help new businesses become established and progress is a positive development at this time, and I’m happy to be able to contribute to that process.”