AN annual awards ceremony that celebrates flourishing businesses across Winchester is hoping to set up a focus group for previous winners.

Last Wednesday former Winchester Business Excellence Awards winners were invited to the city’s business centre, in Parchment Street, to discuss the possibility of the group.

Catherine Turness, manager of Winchester Business Improvement District, said: “The idea is to gain businesses feedback that have been involved in the awards previously and supports having a group that continues to meet after the awards to embrace their success, network, and connect more businesses together across the district.”

The legacy package would also invite members to speak at high-profile events and business courses, directors’ lunches and take part in mentoring.

Membership will be offered to winners from 2010 onwards, and the group would meet quarterly either at the University of Winchester or the business centre. There would also be an online forum.

The awards were founded and organised in 2002 by the Hampshire Chronicle and its partners Winchester BID and the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce.