QUALITY and quantity was much in evidence as the judges for the Inspire Business Awards 2024 had the challenging task of selecting the finalists for this year’s event.

A total of 12 category awards and a winner of winners prize are up for grabs in the 2024 event after organiser Destination Basingstoke increased the number of categories and the breadth of the awards.

There were nearly 100 entries across the categories and individual category sponsors, together with members of an independent judging panel, had some very tough decisions to make.

Jonathan Pender, chair of Destination Basingstoke, said: “Thank you to everyone who entered the Inspire Business Awards 2024 – we appreciate the time and effort that goes into all the submissions.

READ MORE: Inspire Business Awards to support Sport Parkinson's

“Thanks to all the category sponsor representatives, and massive thanks to the independent judging panel who were involved in selecting the finalists across all the categories. The quality and quantity of entries for this year’s awards was amazing, and many entrants were unlucky not to make the finalists’ line up.”

The Finalists’ Event, at which the names of the finalists will be announced in 12 categories, will take place on Monday, March 25, at the Apollo Hotel, Basingstoke.  

The 2024 awards, which will culminate in an awards dinner at Oakley Hall on Thursday, July 11, have attracted great support from previous and new sponsors.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is the headline sponsor of Inspire 2024, and also sponsor of the Business and the Community Champion Award.

Shaw Gibbs, the Basing View-based accountants and business advisers, are the new sponsor of the Large Business of the Year category, while award-winning Basingstoke firm Centerprise International is 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 category sponsors are PLANT, Basingstoke College of Technology, and Worting House. 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, and Allica Bank is sponsoring the entertainment at the event.

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 – sponsored by Worting House

Apprentice of the Year ­– sponsored by Basingstoke College of Technology

Business and Community Champion – sponsored by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council

Sustainable Champion – sponsored by PLANT

New Business of the Year – available for sponsorship

Service Excellence – available for sponsorship

Best Place to Work – available for sponsorship

Winner of Winners – sponsored by Absolutely Offices

Awards Night Welcome Drinks Event sponsor – Hampshire Chamber of Commerce

Entertainment sponsor – Allica Bank

Every year, the Inspire Business Awards makes a difference to a good cause – and the charity of the year for the 2024 event will be Sport Parkinson’s.