Birmingham Post Business Awards winners are being considered for national recognition in an exciting campaign fronted by Dragons' Den star Deborah Meaden.

Local Business Accelerators (LBA) sees the local media industry, including the Birmingham Post, boost local businesses across the UK.

The entrepreneur and TV star is an ambassador for the campaign, which is organised by Local Media Works - the marketing body for the local press industry. The winner will receive free advertising in their local newspaper.

The LBA has asked the Post to recommend businesses in the area that could make the grade at the national business awards.

The Post has nominated its Business Awards winners for 2015:

- Company of the Year - Fracino

- Special Achievement - Paul Dransfield and Chris Montgomery for Grand Central

- Business Start Up and Entrepreneur - Escape Live

- Legal - Weightmans

- Finance - Catalyst Corporate Finance

- Export - Francino

- Creative, Communications and Digital - Oakley Wilkinson Bryan

- Export - Fracino

- Finance - Catalyst Corporate Finance

- Manufacturing - I2R Packaging Solutions

- Outstanding Professional - Alan Lusty from Adi Group

- People Development - Adi Group

- Property - O'Brien Contractors Ltd

- Small and Medium Enterprise - Evolve

Deborah Meaden said: "Since its inception, LBA has consistently demonstrated that local media advertising can accelerate local businesses, energising and invigorating local economies.

"That is because people trust local news brands more than any other media, and are much more likely to engage with, and act upon, the advertising within them. I am delighted to be fronting LBA once again and would encourage all businesses out there to contact their local newspaper to find out how they can get involved."

Launching for the first time in 2011 with backing from 500 local papers, LBA has already seen hundreds of businesses accelerated by a combination of free local newspaper advertising and mentoring from business leaders.

LBA 2013 national winner Sophie Jewett, owner of York Cocoa House, said: "My experience of winning LBA has been tremendous, it's helped me to take my business to another level. The advice and personal mentoring support I was able to get from Deborah was invaluable.

"We worked with our local newspaper, The York Press, as part of the prize. It's helped us to develop the brand and to be able to tell our story to a local audience, since that time we've seen a continued marked increase in sales.

"We have really benefitted through strong relationships with our local newspapers and, by engaging with their digital platforms, it's given us a great and effective communication with new and existing customers."

The Birmingham Post Business Awards celebrate the fantastic achievements of companies that have not only weathered the recent economic storm but have delivered success for themselves, their staff and their customers.

The deadline for nominations for the Local Business Accelerators is January 29 and the winner will be announced in March.

Follow @acceleratelocal on Twitter using the hashtag #LBA