NEXT week sees the launch of the 11th annual Winchester Business Excellence Awards (WBEA), the premier business awards in the district.

Split into eight categories, including entrepreneur, eco business, rural, service excellence and overall business of the year awards, the event is organised by Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, Winchester Business Improvement District (BID), and the Hampshire Chronicle.

Principal sponsor of the 2013 awards is Denplan, which has its headquarters in the city.

The launch will be held at The Holiday Inn, Winchester, next Wednesday (January 30) from 5.30pm.

Part of the largest hotel chain in the world, the 114-room four-star Holiday Inn opened in Winchester two-and-a-half years ago, and has won a number of awards for its customer service, food quality and green initiatives.

The winners of this year’s Winchester Business Excellence Awards will be announced at a glittering gala evening at the Guildhall in Winchester this June.

A spokesman for WBEA said: “The 2013 Winchester Business Excellence Awards offer local businesses a unique opportunity to gain the recognition and prestige they deserve for their achievements.”

For more details about how to enter, see next week’s Hampshire Chronicle.