THE Winchester Business Excellence Awards promise to be a lively affair this year with entries flooding in for the competition which is organised by Winchester Business Improvement District, Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and the Hampshire Chronicle.

The awards, in their ninth year, are well established as the premier event in the city’s business calendar.

Dutton Gregory LLP Solicitors is the principal sponsor of the competition and of the overall Business of the Year Award.

All entrants will be nominated for this award which aims to acknowledge dynamic businesses or organisations which have smart business planning, clever marketing and sound financials, combining to produce strong business growth.

All businesses in the Winchester City Council district, employing fewer than 200 people, are eligible to enter the awards, which set out to recognise excellence in all aspects of business performance.

Dutton Gregory has 20 partners, more than 50 fee earners and additional support staff, located in offices and specialist departments in Winchester, Southampton and Bournemouth.

Dutton Gregory has developed a reputation as one of the South’s leading commercially-orientated law firms.

It was one of the first law firms to publish a quality guarantee to its clients, and it works to the most exacting standards of professional skill, commercial awareness, client care and value for money.

At the same time, substantial investment in quality assurance, communications and IT systems ensures continuing high levels of client care.

Lorne Campbell, partner, said: “Dutton Gregory strives to be outstanding in every department and for every client. We are delighted, for the second year running, to be part of an event that recognises the success and achievement of other Winchester businesses in accomplishing this shared goal”

“At Dutton Gregory Solicitors, we pride ourselves on working together to achieve a standard of client care and quality that exceeds even the highest expectations.

“This award is a mark of significant achievement that acknowledges the standards and qualities of local business and the contribution that they can make to the growing Winchester economy.”

Finalists for the 2011 Awards will be announced in the Hampshire Chronicle from the middle of March.

Companies shortlisted for an award will then go forward for the final stage of judging, and the winners will be announced at a glittering celebration dinner and awards presentation to be held at Winchester Guildhall on Friday, June 10.

The awards judges and sponsors met at Winchester’s Hotel du Vin last week as this year’s awards started to gather momentum.

They are keen to stress that anyone can nominate a business for an award.

The closing date is Friday, March 4, and entry forms may be found at www.winbiz.org.uk/awards or by calling Joanna Humphreys on 01962 841000.