Prime Minister David Cameron has joined Dragons' Den's Deborah Meaden in backing a local newspaper scheme that promises a £15 million nationwide boost to promising young businesses through free advertising and mentoring.

The second Local Business Accelerators (LBA) campaign, supported by the KM Group and newspaper publishers nationwide, has launched this week to deliver business growth.

Mr Cameron, pictured left, said he was delighted that the LBA campaign, unveiled last year by the Newspaper Society with backing from the KM Group and other media organisations nationwide, was so successful that it was being run for a second time.

He said: "Local newspapers play a vital role in their communities and are uniquely placed to support small businesses, giving them the boost that they need to grow, which is good for local areas and good for the economy as a whole. I hope more young businesses put themselves forward over the coming months and get involved with this innovative scheme, which rewards entrepreneurship and creative thinking in business."

Last year, the scheme attracted more than 3,000 entries nationwide and some 70 across Kent and Medway.

The county competition - promoted by the KM Group with Reeves, the long-established accounting and business advisory firm based in Canterbury and Chatham Maritime, mentoring finalists - was won by Ebox Media.

Based in Cranbrook, it is a company making house signs to customer designs online at designahousesign.com.

The fledgling firm was given online and in-paper advertising worth thousands of pounds.

It went on to win the regional final and founder Dan Clay attended the national final judged by LBA national ambassador Deborah Meaden.

Ms Meaden said: "With last year's LBA having demonstrated the unique power of local and regional press to provide a meaningful boost to promising young businesses, I am delighted to be supporting the initiative once again."

KM Group chairman Geraldine Allinson said: "Last year, we saw some inspiring entries from businesses across the county, many with great potential for growth.

"The KM Group provided free advertising for the finalists and winner worth thousands of pounds and I'm looking forward to doing the same this time."

Ebox Media founder Dan Clay said: "We have seen increased sales from KentOnline and the KM Group. It was fabulous exposure and I would recommend anybody to enter the next LBA."