Sky expands sustainable ad fund to startups and SMEs

Sky wants to help startups inspire positive behaviour change through the medium of TV with its new sustainable SME initiative ‘Local Heroes’. 

Part of its pre-existing ‘Zero Footprint Fund’, Sky Media – the broadcaster’s advertising arm – intends to help nine SMEs and local businesses from the UK and Ireland share their message on a national scale.  

The fund will award up to £20,000 of media value to each brand to spend on a TV campaign and provide up to £2,500 towards creating the ads with local production agencies.  

Winning brands will be put through a public vote and local judging, with communities voting for their favourite local businesses.  

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“Businesses of all shapes and sizes around the UK are making real change in the fight against climate change,” says David Sanderson, director of AdSmart local and development, Sky’s targeted ads platform.  

“We want to reward those businesses by giving them access to grow their business and spread their sustainable message. AdSmart from Sky is the perfect platform to do that, in a focused and targeted way for regional businesses, and has already helped thousands of businesses get on TV for the first time,” he adds.  

Sky’s Zero Footprint Fund is now in its fourth year, with previous winners including Grub Club, Serious Tissues and Here We Flo. The largest amount brands can access through the fund is £1m, with the five shortlisted businesses each year receiving £250,000 in ad value.