An inspirational evening celebrating the success of regional businesses
INSPIRE08 is pleased to announce the INSPIRE08 BUSINESS AWARDS will take place on the evening of Tuesday 4 November. These Awards will celebrate the successes of local businesses in Basingstoke and North Hampshire. All categories are open to those from across the region and will allow our leading businesses to gain the recognition they deserve for themselves and equally as importantly the hard work and dedication of their staff. Closing Date for entries 26 September, 5pm

Business of the Year
The winner will be the business most able to demonstrate all-round achievement, a clear vision for the future, success against objectives, sustained growth and be a standard bearer for success in Basingstoke and North Hampshire.

Exporter of the Year
The Exporter of the Year Award is open to both novice and established exporters. The winner will demonstrate how exporting has significantly benefited the organizations’ profitability and strategy. The company must show outstanding achievement in driving forward export initiatives and orders.

Rural Business of the Year
The Rural Business of the Year is open to those companies based in rural areas of the region only. The entry must demonstrate how business success has been achieved and sustained through innovative practices that have diversified them from the usual rural activities.

Sustainable Business of the Year
The sustainable business of the year is open to any company that can demonstrate how they have embedded environmental and sustainability issues into their business and gained a key competitive advantage as a result. This can relate directly to use of sustainable materials, reducing waste and energy use, reducing carbon emissions, use of sustainable suppliers, or indeed innovative ways of developing sustainability across business functions.

E-Business of Year
The E-Business of the Year Award is open to businesses that can demonstrate they have added value and achieved success for their business or client through e-commerce, web design or electronic marketing. The category is open to both businesses and e-business professionals.

Basingstoke Business Personality of the Year
The Basingstoke Business Personality of the Year will be given to the individual who is deemed to have made the biggest commercial impact in Basingstoke and North Hampshire during their career to date. This person should be able to demonstrate an outstanding contribution and commitment to business in the region and will have been a standard bearer for success in the area.

New Business of the Year
The New Business of the Year Award is open to all ventures that have commenced trading within the past 24 months in the Basingstoke and North Hampshire region.  The winner will be the business that shows substantial growth, a clear vision for the future and consistent achievement of set goals and targets.

Business Woman of the Year
This award will recognise an exceptional business woman who has made a fundamental contribution to the success and development of their organisation and field of expertise.  Not just open to business owners this award will reward women in your organisation who deserve to be recognised.

Entrepreneur of the Year
The Entrepreneur Award will be won by an employed or self-employed person who has demonstrated initiative, drive and leadership in adding value to, and achieving success for their business.

Employer of the Year
The Employer of the Year will be given to the business that can best prove a genuine dedication to the development and welfare of their work force.  The judging panel will concentrate on business culture, benefits, training and outstanding innovation in staff care and progression.

Who should enter: Nominations for awards can come directly from the companies themselves or from third parties. So if you know of any company you feel deserves an award please take this opportunity to reward their excellence. The awards are open to any company in the Basingstoke and North Hampshire area.

Judges: The judges are drawn from an independent panel of business experts and supplemented with a sponsor representative for each award. The judges will assess each nominee on tangible results, improved performance and evidence of achievement in the subject category. We expect the judges to be involved in a challenging, but extremely rewarding process that will ultimately recognise excellence across the region.

Finalists: The judging will begin in late September when the judges will meet to evaluate, discuss and debate which entries should be placed on the shortlist. All finalists will be announced the week commencing 6 October and will receive a free place at the Business Awards Dinner plus pre and post event publicity. Category winners plus the overall winners will then be announced on the evening of 4November at the INSPIRE08 black tie Gala Dinner.

Closing date - 5.00pm, 26 September 2008

Finalists will receive a free place at the Awards Ceremony.

I wish to enter the INSPIRE08 BUSINESS AWARDS – please download the application form.

GOOD LUCK!

Places at the INSPIRE08 BUSINESS AWARDS are available from:
£55.00 + VAT per person
£500 + VAT for a table of ten

CLICK HERE to book your place at the INSPIRE08 BUSINESS AWARDS

CLICK HERE for Business Links top tips on how to win a Business Award