A DOZEN Dorset businesses in with a chance of winning mentoring and support to boost them have been chosen.

In all, 38 firms entered this year’s Local Business Accelerators campaign, which is being run by the Newspaper Society for the second year.

Now, they have been whittled down to an initial shortlist of 12.

Between now and February, the dozen will be cut down to three, who will receive advice from Poole Chamber of Trade and Commerce president, Lucy Cooper, and Dorset Echo publisher Newsquest Dorset’s MD, Vincent Boni, as well as free advertising.

One winner will then be chosen to be entered into the contest to win the national prize, which is made up of mentoring from Deborah Meaden, the campaign’s national ambassador, another free ad campaign in their local paper, and a host of other prizes.

Mr Boni said: “The spread of candidates for the process is significantly broader this year, all with compelling submissions that made the shortlist difficult to write.

“It is encouraging that there are so many eligible new businesses in the region and I believe that it is a sign that Dorset has more than its fair share of brave entrepreneurs.”

The aim of the campaign is to boost British businesses aged between one and five years old.

The Dorset Echo is one of around 500 regional newspapers taking part.

The 12 shortlisted businesses are: l Lovelove Films, Poole l Print Shop Express, Weymouth lSteven May Hair Design, Weymouth l Heavenly Bump Maternity Wear, Weymouth l The Dining Room, Weymouth l Greedy Cakes, Christchurch l Castleman Auto Repairs, Poole l Createful, Poole l Dexil, Bournemouth l CMD Global, Ashley Heath l Goldenwest Fashions, Wimborne l Fun Fancy Dress, Poole