03 June 2019

The Lloyds Bank National Business Awards is delighted to announce a new media partnership with the i newspaper, in association with The Yorkshire Post and The Scotsman.

The i newspaper's agenda-setting stories, impactful news coverage, stylish comment, striking design and focus on innovation is widely commended by British media as one of the UK's leading media titles.  

The i newspaper's Business Editors will use their knowledge and insight to judge the SME category of the awards and present the winner with their trophy at the awards event in November.

Sarah Austin, Director of the Lloyds Bank National Business Awards said: “The i newspaper's ethos of open-mindedness, its   size which makes it appealing to busy readers, and its commitment to providing quality news and insight has earned it a readership profile strongly aligned with entrants and participants in the National Business Awards.

“In addition, having  The Yorkshire Post and The Scotsman also on board means the National Business Awards will reach locally-focused businesses, which can in turn access publicity in those newspapers should they become a finalist.”

A quality newspaper with no political affiliation, the i newspaper currently reaches 6.2 million people every month* and has seen circulation revenue year-on-year growth of around five per cent, demonstrating that the commitment to providing a balanced voice is clearly resonating with consumers. The i newspaper's ‘Free Thinkers' readers want unbiased information to help them decide for themselves about key issues.

In digital, inews is currently the UK's fastest-growing news website with an audience growth of 457 per cent in 12 months. It took the top spot as the most trusted website in Britain earlier this year, according to PAMCo - the industry recognised audience measurement currency for national news brands. inews is not even three years old.

The Yorkshire Post, well known for its hard hitting campaigns such as #OneNorth, topped the table for the most trusted newsprint title in the PAMCo research while The Scotsman, Scotland's national paper, currently reaches over 2m monthly people in print and online.

Acting Business Editor at the i newspaper Laurie Havelock said: “We're delighted to be the new media partner for these awards, and I'm looking forward to finding out details about interesting SMEs when I judge that category. Business forms an important part of i newspaper's coverage  our coverage and in the current news climate, we understand how important it is for firms to be kept informed on key issues and how they may be impacted.

“Business owners and employees know they can access the facts by reading the i newspaper and make up their own minds about how best to inform business decisions, regardless of the size of the company. The Yorkshire Post and The Scotsman have both been avid supporters of local business for many years and their involvement these awards will be invaluable.”

This new media partnership gives the Lloyds Bank National Business Awards greater reach nationally and regionally, and underlines the cachet it has earned through supporting successful and innovative British businesses.

The Lloyds Bank National Business Awards are the UKs largest cross sector business awards programme which celebrates the very best in UK business recognising companies that are setting a new standard of excellence within their industries. Now in their eighteenth year the awards have achieved strong support from senior government bodies, business leaders, academics and corporate sponsors.

The theme for 2019 celebrates the Best of British Growth across the length and breadth of the UK. The awards will celebrate diversity across all sectors and seeks to put key business issues at the forefront of the UK Business landscape to allow companies to tell their stories through the National Business Awards.