Destination Basingstoke opens entries for the INSPIRE Business Awards 2024

INSPIRE Business Awards, the long-running business excellence event focused on Basingstoke and Deane, has opened entries for 2024.

Organiser Destination Basingstoke has increased the number of categories this year, taking the total to 12 along with a Winner of Winners prize.

The main event will be held at Oakley Hall on Thursday, 11th July, with a number of new and returning sponsors signed up in support.

Shaw Gibbs, the Basing View-based accountants and business advisers, are the new sponsor of the Large Business of the Year category, while Basingstoke firm Centerprise International has come on board as sponsor of the Medium Business of the Year category.

Long-time sponsors Absolutely Offices, SNG (formerly Sovereign Housing) and Minuteman Press are all returning as category sponsors for the 2024 event, and other sponsors are set to sign up over the coming weeks.

Hampshire Chamber of Commerce has also joined the roster of INSPIRE 2024 sponsors, and will be sponsoring the welcome drinks reception and networking event at the awards night.

The 2024 INSPIRE Business Awards categories, and sponsors so far, are:

• Large Business of the Year – sponsored by Shaw Gibbs
• Medium Business of the Year – sponsored by Centerprise International
• Small Business of the Year – available for sponsorship
• Wellbeing Champion – sponsored by SNG
• Young Business Person of the Year – sponsored by Minuteman Press
• Rural Business of the Year – available for sponsorship
• Apprentice of the Year – available for sponsorship
• Business and Community Champion – available for sponsorship
• New Business of the Year – available for sponsorship
• Service Excellence – available for sponsorship
• Best Place to Work – available for sponsorship
• Sustainable Champion – available for sponsorship
• Winner of Winners – sponsored by Absolutely Offices
• Awards Night Welcome Drinks Event sponsor – Hampshire Chamber of Commerce

With the 2024 event focusing on Basingstoke and Deane, all entrants must either be based in the borough, do more than 20 per cent of the business in the area, or have 20 per cent of staff that live in Basingstoke and Deane.

Jonathan Pender, chair of Destination Basingstoke, said: “Destination Basingstoke is proud and honoured to be organising the INSPIRE Business Awards 2024. This is a long-running and prestigious annual awards event that showcases and celebrates the best individuals and organisations in local business.

“We are delighted to see some long-time sponsors returning and are also delighted to see new sponsors coming on board. INSPIRE Business Awards 2024 will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of next year’s local business calendar.”

Entry to the INSPIRE Business Awards 2024 is now open, and entry forms can be found at www.destinationbasingstoke.co.uk/inspire/

If any business or organisation wishes to join the 2024 roster of category sponsors, please contact Mark Jones, partnerships manager at Destination Basingstoke, on mark.jones@destinationbasingstoke.co.uk

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