The INSPIRE12 Business Awards finalists have been announced (From Hampshire Chronicle)

The finalists of the INSPIRE12 Business Awards, set to take place at The Hampshire Court Hotel, in Basingstoke, have been revealed

9:16am Tuesday 2nd October 2012 in Hampshire Business By Richard Garfield

THE finalists for the INSPIRE12 Business Awards have been revealed.

Judges have selected the final three for each category – and the winners will be announced at a gala awards evening on Thursday, November 15, at The Hampshire Court Hotel, in Chineham.

It is there that 500 guests are expected to gather to hear the announcements at the event organised by Destination Basingstoke.

The finalists come from across the north Hampshire area. With an unprecedented amount of entries, the judges have faced tough decisions when selecting the final three for each category.

Felicity Edwards, managing director of Destination Basingstoke, said: “The sheer scale and quality of this year’s entries made for some very tough decisions. “We know there will be some businesses that will be very disappointed not to have been shortlisted, but as the profile of the awards grows each year, so does the level of competition. “We are confident that the shortlisted businesses are all very strong candidates, and they should be proud to be selected as finalists – congratulations to them all. “The glittering awards ceremony will be a fantastic and well-deserved celebration for the region.”

Tables and tickets for the evening are on sale now. For details call 01256 461167 or visit inspirebusinessawards.co.uk.

The business awards categories and finalists are:

Business of the Year Award – sponsored by Wilding Butler

Icon: SLS, Hook

CV Library, Fleet

Wildflower Turf, Overton

Small Business of the Year Award – sponsored by Kestrel FM

Marston Robing, Andover

Accelerate Driving School, Yateley

Zapkut, Silchester

Excellence Online Award – sponsored by Minuteman Press/Video Productions

CV Library, Fleet

The Nautical Company, Basingstoke

nDreams, Farnborough

Employer of the Year Award – sponsored by HW Chartered Accountants

De Vere Warbrook House, Hook

Sentinal Housing Association, Basingstoke

Vitacress, St Mary Bourne

Exporter of the Year Award – sponsored by HSBC

Postjet, Basingstoke

Chevron Cars, Basingstoke

Farsite Communications, Basingstoke

The Innovation Excellence Award – sponsored by Lilly

DevelopIQ, Basingstoke

Carbon Footprint, Basingstoke

Daval, Andover

New Business of the Year Award – sponsored by theESCAPE

Films For Websites, Andover

ESP Energy Management, Basingstoke

The Nautical Company, Basingstoke

Young Business Person of the Year Award – sponsored by Hampshire County Council

Matt Stringer – Bloomhill Insurance, Basingstoke

Helen McCusker – Booked PR, Petersfield

Tommy Gentleman – Reasons Fitness, Andover

Sustainable Business of the Year Award – sponsored by Footprint Communications

Wildflower Turf, Overton

Basingstoke Energy Services Co-operative, Basingstoke

HCR, Basingstoke

Entrepreneur of the Year – sponsored by Barclays

Michelle Wilkinson – Hampshire Chutney Company, Farleigh Wallop

Gary Livingstone – MiniTec UK and LG Motion, Basingstoke

Paul Bradford – Southern Communications, Dummer

Service Excellence Award – sponsored by Computer 2000

Festival Place, Basingstoke

YBC Cleaning, Aldershot

Travel Counsellors – Jane Zollo, Charter Alley

Business and the Community Award – sponsored by Centerprise International

Barclays, Basingstoke

AXA Wealth, Basingstoke

Pinto Potts, Fleet and Aldershot