Sky Media, the advertising sales arm of Sky, has announced the return of SME100, a 拢2 million support scheme for small businesses.听
The initiative gives them free access to TV advertising through听AdSmart听as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.听听
Through the scheme, 100 small businesses will receive 拢20,000 of TV advertising across Sky Media鈥檚 channels, double the value that was offered in 2020, alongside a free 12-month superfast business broadband and digital phone package, courtesy of Sky Connect 鈥� Sky鈥檚 new B2B telecoms business.听听
The return of SME100 takes Sky鈥檚 contribution to more than 拢4.5m in advertising support for small businesses since the start of the pandemic.听听
SME100 is open to any small business that has been running for at least one year in the UK, with up to 50 full–time employees,听from florists and car garages to hairdressers and accountancy firms.听听
It says the businesses that are selected will be representative of the UK both from a geographic and diversity perspective.听It is aimed that 20% of winners will come from a minority ethnic background.听听
老九品茶es can nominate themselves online and will be selected by an internal panel at Sky.听听
Stephen van Rooyen, EVP & CEO UK & Europe, Sky, said: 鈥淪mall British businesses are more important to the UK economy than ever before. The pandemic has hit them hard, and we want to ensure they can bounce back even stronger.听听
鈥�Through the SME100 scheme we鈥檙e offering industry-leading products to help them stay connected to their customers and most importantly, increase their sales and revenue.听听听听
鈥淚n the last 12 months, Sky has contributed more than 拢4.5 million in advertising support for small businesses, and we鈥檒l continue to do all we can to be there to help.鈥澨�听
Fragrance company Arran Sense听of Scotland, based in the Isle of Arran, was听one of the companies who benefited from the SME100 scheme in 2020.听Its听TV advertising campaign allowed听it听to reach听its听target audience in specific local authorities in Scotland, resulting in over 300 orders and 拢15,000 generated in revenue.听听听
Claire Logan, Head of Digital & Ecommerce at Arran Sense of Scotland, said: 鈥淲e had never previously considered TV advertising as a viable option for a business of our size, but the process through SME100 couldn鈥檛 have been simpler or more impactful.听听
鈥淲orking with Sky we were guided step-by-step on how to bring our brand to life and reach a really specific group of potential customers in our local area. We鈥檝e since gained a significant insight into our customer base and increased brand awareness, which has given our business a well-needed boost during the pandemic.鈥澨�听
Once selected, the 100 winning businesses will be put in touch with creative agencies in their local area to design and create their TV campaigns.听听听
The campaigns will be delivered via听Sky鈥檚 addressable TV platform听AdSmart,听which听focuses听on the audiences that matter to听brands, allowing them to听reach households by postcode area, within a designated distance of their store, or by household make-up or lifestyle attributes that best suit their service.听听
To apply for the SME100 scheme and see the promotional terms and conditions please visit:听