BUSINESSES across north Hampshire celebrated the fruits of their labour at this year’s INSPIRE business awards.

Hundreds of business people from across the north of the county attended the glittering event held at the Hampshire Court Hotel last Thursday, where the proud winners accepted their trophies on stage from comperes journalist Michael Buerk and Destination Basingstoke’s Felicity Edwards.

The evening saw awards handed out across 12 different categories including New Business of the Year, Employee of the Year and the Service Excellence Award.

The event was organised by Destination Basingstoke, with The Gazette as a media sponsor.

The evening kicked off with a flash mob providing light entertainment.

Getting the awards under way, Mr Buerk introduced the evening’s charity Challengers, which provides play and leisure opportunities for disabled children and young people aged two to 25 throughout Hampshire and Surrey.

Mr Buerk said: “I am honoured to be here among so many great business people who all do such great work for their local communities.

“It has been great fun to be part of this tremendous celebration and to hear all the stories of entrepreneurship. north Hampshire clearly is a great place for business.

“I was delighted that all the attendees gave so generously to Challengers, a fantastic charity that does vital work in the local community, who knows, maybe it will help create some north Hampshire entrepreneurs of the future.”