A pair of engineering graduates who have built up an electrical supply business they started in their bedrooms are hoping for success in the T&A’s Local Business Accelerators initiative.

Mariam Maqsood and Mohammed Patel, both 24, struggled to find jobs after graduating from four-year degrees at Bradford University.

But using contacts they made at year-long work placements, they set up their own business MM Engineering Services, selling electrical motors to the gas, mining and oil industries, and the general public.

Mariam said: “We graduated in 2009, right as the recession hit.

“I had an interview lined up but the company pulled the graduate scheme and it was difficult to get anything locally.

“Mohammed had worked with (Bradford-based electric motor engineers) BAWCO, so he had a little bit of experience of the industry, so we had an idea to start up on our own.

“We pretty much set up our business from nothing, worked from our bedrooms and kept our overheads low by building our own website and doing our marketing online.”

The business became a limited company in February this year and moved to The Gumption Centre in Glydegate, Bradford.

It now provides other electrical equipment and has had a turnover of £300,000 in the last ten months.

The business partners applied for the Local Business Accelerators last month.

Under the initiative, each of the selected businesses will be provided with the support of an experienced mentor as well as free advertising space in the T&A worth more than £11,000.

The project, which has the backing of Dragons’ Den judge, Deborah Meaden, 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 Newspaper Society and nearly 500 local press publications are joining forces to promote the strength and value of local newspapers for local businesses and communities.

One business picked from the hundreds of regional winners will get individual mentoring sessions from the LBA national ambassador and former Dragon’s den star Deborah Meaden, who will become a consultant and mentor to the business for one year.

Mariam said: “We want to get our name out because we don’t just supply to companies but for the average person who need equipment for their workshops.

“Mentoring would also really push us in the right direction.”

To find out more visit the website accelerateme.co.uk.

Entries close on November 14, 2011.