Last updated at 14:48, Thursday, 06 December 2012

AFTER a week of tough decisions the 10 finalists for a competition which could land three lucky businesses with a £13,000 advertising campaign can be revealed.

This year the Evening Mail received a raft of high-calibre entries from companies in a variety of industries.

Everything from local magazines to wedding businesses entered the competition which will see three lucky winners received an advertising campaign in the Evening Mail worth £13,000 along with three months of expert mentorship from CN Businessman of the Year, Mike Armstead, Martin Cutbill, director of sales and marketing at Furness Building Society and Paul Graham, general manager of Abbey House Hotel.

After an agonising week the Evening Mail can reveal the 10 lucky finalists for the competition are; Hardknott Brewery, Lumibio Ltd, Special Occasions, Happy Houndz, Promise Bridal, The Wedding Room, Coulson Associates, Salix Alba, Dazzlers and Harmony (professional make up and beauty therapy) Ltd.

Each business who entered the competition will receive a 20 per cent discount for their first advertising campaign in the Evening Mail (terms and conditions apply).

The winners will also receive support and advice from sponsors the University of Cumbria and Armstrong Watson.

Last year’s winners were Cumbria Karting, owned by Jonathan Chapman, The Cumbrian Pig Company run by Angus Duncan and Cumbrian Energy Assessors, owned by Adele Broadhurst.

The next stage will see the 10 finalists pitching their ideas before the judging panel which features our three mentors along with Sarah Stables from the University of Cumbria and Richard Andrew, of the University of Cumbria and Evening Mail business reporter, Will Metcalfe.

Businesses will now be given the chance to make their argument for why they should win the prize in a Dragons’ Den-style showdown on December 12.

The LBA campaign has been spearheaded nationally by the Newspaper Society and is support by accountancy and business advice firm Armstrong Watson and the University of Cumbria.

First published at 12:22, Tuesday, 27 November 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk