NOMINATIONS are now open for an awards scheme celebrating the best of north Hampshire business,

The Inspire Business Awards 2018 opened for entries on Monday as oganisers looks to honour the successes and achievements of all types of businesses across north Hampshire.

Organised and managed by Destination Basingstoke, the awards were attended by over 500 people last year, representing more than 180 businesses from the region.

Felicity Edwards, managing director of Destination Basingstoke, said: “Often when people think of INSPIRE they think of the awards evening and all its glitz. However INSPIRE is an awards programme, not just a good night out, and the most important part of the programme are the businesses themselves and the hard work and passion that makes them award winning.

"We have a huge range of inspiring businesses operating in the north Hampshire region. The Inspire Business Awards offer a chance to celebrate and showcase their successes.

"We would like to encourage customers of businesses, friends, relatives and colleagues to recommend great businesses to enter”

This year, with the 100 year anniversary of the Suffragette movement securing the vote for women, the INSPIRE steering committee has chosen to celebrate this through the introduction of a new award, Female Acheiver, which will feature alongside the 12 existing award categories which are available for businesses to enter from now until September 7.

The new award has been sponsored by Willmott Dixon. Managing director Richard Poulter said “Willmott Dixon is proud to support the Female Achiever category at the Inspire Awards. We believe passionately that the most successful companies are those that embrace inclusion, equality and diversity for their people, so it is a pleasure to support awards that are recognising the achievements of women in business.”

Entry into the INSPIRE18 business awards is free.

To enter, go to inspirebusinessawards.co.uk.