AN event to promote the INSPIRE14 Business Awards is set to take place on Tuesday June 3.

It is being hosted by Rushmore Borough Council and will take place at the Smith Dorrien Building, Queen’s Avenue, in Aldershot.

Businesses of all sizes from across north Hampshire are invited to attend the launch, to hear about how they can enter the free business awards, organised by Destination Basingstoke.

Previous awards winners Miaya KC, of YBC Services, who won the Entrepreneur of the Year in 2009 and the Service Excellence Award in 2012, and Rob Walker of Xcite Digital, who won Young Business Person of the Year in 2010 and is now an award sponsor and Steve Shaw of The Purple Agency which won the Marketing Campaign of the Year at INSPIRE13 will be speaking about their experience of being involved in the awards.

They will also be talking of how the judging process and winning has supported their company and staff to develop.

Miaya said: “We’re proud of this achievement. It has really raised our profile within our own industry, and has enhanced our credibility with clients.

“I feel very strongly that local businesses should get involved with INSPIRE. It’s a great way to build your business network and to commit to supporting the business community and local economy.”

Phil Wilding, who chairs the Inspire Business Awards steering group will speak about the benefits of taking part in the awards, as will Rushmoor Borough Council chief executive Andrew Lloyd.

He said: “Rushmoor Borough Council is keen to encourage more businesses from the local area to enter the awards. It’s an excellent opportunity for businesses of any size or sector, at all stages of development, to show what they have achieved to date. The opportunities which can arise gained through the awards experience, and the contacts made as a result, would support any business in its future development.”

Inspire Business Awards have been running since 2005 and is open to north Hampshire businesses from Andover in the west to Farnborough in the east and everywhere in between, including Basingstoke, Fleet, Aldershot, Odiham and Yateley.

The key aims of the awards are to showcase business excellence in north Hampshire and to promote the area as a key business region, and one that recognises and supports local success.

It also aims to recognise outstanding performance and achievement of local businesses, to inspire and act as a driver for local SMEs to prosper and to encourage businesses to think and act positively.

Businesses can register for the free event at www.rushmoor.gov.uk/article/1487/Business-news-and-events.

For more information about the event, contact economicdevelopment @rushmoor.gov.uk or 01252 398 802.

Information about the Inspire Business Awards can be found at inspirebusinessawards.co.uk.