Local business experts who will judge and mentor entries in a competition to find the borough’s most promising start-ups are urging entrepreneurs to get involved.

The Recorder has teamed up with Dragons’ Den star Deborah Meaden to search for Havering’s most inspiring and unique young businesses in the Local Business Accelerators scheme.

More than 500 local newspapers across the country have pledged �15million of free advertising space for winners of the programme, which is run by the Newspaper Society.

If your business is one-to-five years old, you could win free advertising in the Recorder and guidance from local McDonald’s franchise owner Gerry Byrne, who runs branches of the fast food store throughout Havering.

In addition, you could win support from “dragon” Deborah Meaden.

Mark Kass, head of enterprise and economic development at Barking Enterprise Centre, will join Gerry on the judging panel.

“I’m really keen to see local businesses survive and grow to create more jobs during these challenging times,” he said. “This is an incredible offer that should not be ignored.

“The old adage ‘it’s not the winning that matters – it’s the taking part that counts’ absolutely applies to everyone applying, as it gives owners and leaders of business of any size and in any sector a fantastic opportunity to do a self-audit of what they do – or don’t do – before they apply.”

Judges are looking for a business with a great idea or product, that is between one and five years old, active in the Havering community and full of potential.

For more information or to enter the competition, visit www.accelerateme.co.uk by Friday, November 16.