A group of talented digital founders and entrepreneurs in Nottinghamshire have been selected to take part in a fast-track programme dedicated to accelerating the growth of tech SMEs.

The Big House Accelerator Programme, run by Nottingham Business School (NBS), provides pre-start and early-stage businesses in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, with a series of exclusive workshops and mentoring programmes worth over £10k.

The aim of the programme is to help ambitious tech businesses in the area to grow fast.

The Nottinghamshire-based businesses include: Go Dine Limited, a free online restaurant booking guide featuring over 700 restaurants across the UK. Owned by Adam Roberts, each month the business helps over 100,000 people find, book and save at quality restaurants.

Clajan Ltd, owned by Maureen Gatune, who is seeking to streamline the vehicle insurance claims process using digital telematics technology, to ensure there is clarity on what happened if an accident occurs. The business aims to help insurance companies detect and reduce motor insurance fraud, automate claims process, and reduce losses and time used to investigate the claims, while improving the settlement period for valid claims.

Work and Communications (WAC Ltd),founded by law graduate Georgina Fairhall, is a pre-start, data management app for business and employees to manage their work and time.

Other companies selected for the programme include: Yoop Tech Ltd: an app that lets people discover news content shared by friends.

Audient.ly: an app that generates original and unique music content; Cognitive.Business: an AI and digital agency for oil, energy and utilities industries; Railston & Co LtdRailston & Co are innovators in mobile data capture and the developers of Collabaro, a solution for digitally recording field inspection & repair work; and Proodle Solutions Ltd: a higher education tool to recruit international students.

The Derbyshire-based businesses include: iScout Ltd, founded by Darren Robinson, the football scouting service provides football clubs, agents, governing bodies and intermediaries with assessments of players free from bias.

Lightwave Interactive Ltd, owned by Robert Wilkes, makes multi-interactive LED panels that provide an array of light and pattern when reacting to motion and sound. The panels can be used in the home, in sensory rooms for rehabilitation and in businesses.

Codemakers Limitedcreates mobile and web apps for businesses. Their product, Shipmate, is a multi-carrier delivery management system capable of saving retailers significant time and money.

Other Derbyshire-based companies include Dispace Technology Ltd. Launched by entrepreneur Ross Cox, Dispace is an online service that offers a network of flexible working and meeting spaces, for both the freelance community and bigger businesses, who are shifting from a traditional office based culture.

Three of the businesses chosen to take part in the programme are owned by graduates of Nottingham Trent University (NTU) and have been previously supported through the University's Hive Incubator.

The Accelerator Programme is part of the Big House Programme- a £5 million support scheme for creative and digital industries - delivered through a partnership of business support organisations in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

An introductory event for the selected businesses will be held at NBS on December 13. During the event the businesses will be able to find about more about The Big House Programme, access free help, support and assessments, and will have the chance to meet other new creative and digital businesses