RESIDENTS across Hampshire have been encouraged to enter this year's Inspire Business Awards as the deadline for entries looms. 

The awards celebrate the success of all types and sizes of business in north Hampshire, and this year, the 2022-23 event will culminate with a fabulous gala awards evening at The Anvil, in Basingstoke, on Thursday, July 13.

There are just a few weeks to the awards entry of deadline of March 6, so if you haven’t done so already, it’s time to get your skates on and get your entry in.

John Biffen, chair of the INSPIRE Business Awards steering group, said: “There are so many individual and company stars in Basingstoke and Deane, Test Valley and Rushmoor, and every year, the Inspire awards are delighted to showcase and celebrate the amazing talent and achievements of local people and their companies.

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“Being a finalist or winner in INSPIRE can really boost staff morale as well as business – but you’ve got to be in it to win it.”

There are 12 categories to enter at the INSPIRE Business Awards, which are organised by Destination Basingstoke on behalf of the INSPIRE Business Awards steering group. These are:

  • The Business of the Year category is open to dynamic businesses with an annual turnover of over £1,000,000) – sponsored by Absolutely Offices
  • The Entrepreneur of the Year award is for an individual that has shown real entrepreneurial spirit and success in business with exciting aspirations for the future too – sponsored by Menzies
  • The Employer of the Year award will be given to the business that can best prove a genuine dedication to their workforce, over and above any statutory duty – sponsored by Reality HR
  • New Business of the Year award – This category is open to any business that commenced trading on or after April 1, 2020. The award will be presented to a dynamic company that can demonstrate excellence in developing their business – sponsored by Trustmark
  • The Business and the Community award is open to businesses that, in addition to their commercial activities go over and above to make create a positive, sustainable and societal impact – sponsored by Face TV
  • The Innovation for Growth category is open to any business that uses an innovative approach as the driver for growth – sponsored by RSM
  • The Service Excellence award recognises and rewards a top-performing business based on the quality of service offered – sponsored by Morr & Co Solicitors
  • The Young Business Person of the Year award is open to dynamic individuals under the age of 30 (as at January 1, 2022), running a business and demonstrating great success and drive in growing their business – sponsored by Minuteman Press
  • Green is good – and so will be the winner of the Environmental Responsibility award. This category is open to any business that is reducing its environmental impact, regardless of size or sector – sponsored by Vitacress
  • The Wellbeing at Work award recognises those that have shown real initiative and care with their staff wellbeing – sponsored by Festival Place
  • Inclusion & Diversity Champion – This new award is aimed at businesses that can show how they are ensuring that their business takes strength from, and champions, all sectors of the community – sponsored by Sovereign
  • Small Business of the Year award – This category is open to dynamic businesses (with an annual turnover of up to £1m). The category is the only one still available for sponsorship

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​Entry to the awards, which is supported by Gazette Newspapers as the Media Partner, is free and easy and can be done online at destinationbasingstoke.co.uk/inspire.