Sky increases financial package to help UK SMEs

Broadcasting giant will once again offer 100 lucky small businesses free TV advertising, adding free superfast business broadband for the 2021 scheme.

Sky increases financial package to help UK SMEs

Broadcasting giant will once again offer 100 lucky small businesses free TV advertising, adding free superfast business broadband for the 2021 scheme.

For the second year in a row, Sky will provide much needed support to 100 UK’s small businesses by giving them free access to TV advertising via their AdSmart platform. As businesses across the country attempt to recover from the financial damage caused by the ongoing pandemic, Sky has unveiled its £2m support scheme called the SME 100.

This year’s package means 100 SMEs will each receive £20k of TV advertising across some of the nation’s most loved channels delivered to their ideal audience and location in Sky and Virgin homes. This is double the value offered during 2020. Sky is keen to help small businesses remain connected with their customers, while boosting their recovery as the nation emerges from yet another lockdown.

Sky Media, the advertising sales arm of Sky, have explained that the 100 chosen SMEs will also enjoy other benefits. These include 12 months of unlimited superfast business broadband, as well as a digital phone package, that comes courtesy of Sky Connect ‘ Sky’s new B2B telecoms business. The superfast broadband comes with built-in malware and phishing protection. This latest offering takes the total value of advertising support, provided by Sky since the start of the pandemic, to more than £4.5m.

Sky‘s chief executive, Stephen van Rooyen, said: Small 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. Through our SME100 scheme we’re offering businesses a selection of industry-leading products that will help them stay connected to customers and, more importantly, increase their sales and revenue.  

Over the last 12 months, Sky has contributed more than £4.5 million in advertising support for small businesses, and we’ll continue to do all we can to help.

The enhanced 2021 campaign package will be delivered via AdSmart, the market-leading TV platform that enables brands to advertise by focusing on appropriate audiences. This revolutionary technology means a brand can focus on specific targets, whether it is via postcode, size of household or pertinent lifestyle attributes.

By only targeting audiences that matter to a business, brands can be assured that their advertising will be relevant to those who view it. Arran Sense of Scotland was one of 100 SMEs to benefit from the scheme in 2020. Their TV advertising campaign, across specific local authorities in Scotland, generated around £15k in revenue from over 300 orders.

Claire Logan, head of digital and ecommerce at the company, which is based in the Isle of Arran, said: We had never previously considered TV advertising as a viable option for a business of our size. But the process couldn’t have been simpler or more impactful.

Working 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’ve since gained a significant insight into our customer base and have benefited from increased brand awareness. It has given our business a much-needed boost during the pandemic.  

Those SMEs keen to be selected as one of the ‘lucky 100’, have until the end of September this year, to state their case. The 100 winning businesses will be put in touch with creative agencies in their local area to design and create their TV campaigns, which can run up to a maximum of 30 seconds.  Businesses can nominate themselves online and will be chosen by an internal panel at Sky.  

All applicants to the scheme will receive a £250 discount, if they sign up for any of Sky Connect‘s 24-month broadband and digital phone packages. The scheme is open to any small UK business that has been running for at least one year, and has no more than 50 full time employees.

Sky chief executive, Stephen van Rooyen, added: The selected businesses will be representative of the UK, both from a geographic and diversity perspective. It is aimed that at least 20% of the 100 winners will come from an ethnic minority background. To apply for the SME100 scheme, and read the promotional terms and conditions, please visit: www.adsmartfromsky.co.uk/sme100

About Sky Media:

Is the advertising sales arm of Sky, offering businesses of all shapes and sizes an exciting array of opportunities on TV, online and ‘on the go’. Reaching over 95% of the UK population, Sky Media represents all of Sky‘s channels and sites including: Sky Sports, Sky News, Sky One, Sky Cinema, Sky Arts, Sky Atlantic and Sky Witness. They also sell on behalf of many other renowned broadcasters and channels, such as: Channel 5, Discovery, National Geographic, MTV, Fox, Universal, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central. There are numerous platforms and opportunities available for all budgets, and all aimed at helping you reach the relevant audience.

About Sky Connect:

Sky Connect is Sky‘s new B2B broadband business, offering purpose-built business products, exceptional customer service and an easy-to-follow pricing structure with no hidden fees. Targeted at small businesses, Sky Connect offers the UK’s only business-grade 4G internet back-up product. And the company’s digital phone service has more call management features than anyone else. Sky Broadband, the second largest provider in the UK, has received fewer complaints to Ofcom over the past 10 years, on average, than any other supplier. 

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