Welcome return (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Welcome return

BASINGSTOKE is a place to be proud of for many reasons. One of those is it’s a great place for business and to do business.

It’s no surprise to The Gazette that so many firms, big and small, choose to make Basingstoke their home. When it comes to business, the town and borough is a can-do place and it really ticks the box for location, location, location.

While Basingstoke and Deane has a thriving business scene, one thing has been missing in recent years – a home-grown borough business awards event.

The Gazette believes that celebrating success is important but, for the last few years, there has been a lack of a local platform to showcase some of our individual and company achievements.

Well, last week, the Inspire07 Business Awards put that right.

It was great to see achievements in six categories being celebrated at a packed event at The Hampshire Court hotel. There were high-quality finalists in each section and all deserve to be congratulated on taking the time and effort to enter, and for making it to the gala final.

Particular thanks must go to the various sponsors, supporters and organisers of the event who put the time, effort and money into making the awards happen – the can-do attitude again coming to the fore.

Basingstoke has come a long way in projecting a more positive image in recent years, and The Gazette believes that the revival of the local business awards is yet another important step in the process.