TWO new awards have been introduced for the Winchester Business Excellence Awards 2018.

The Digital Innovation Award, sponsored by Winchester City Council, celebrates digital ideas that have the greatest influence on an organisation or industry.

The judges will be looking for examples or evidence of digital innovation within a company or business. The winner will be able to show examples of digital innovation, such as the use of virtual reality, augmented reality, apps and drones, which improve business performance.

They will also be looking to see sustainable process efficiency, an improvement of the customer experience as a result of the digital innovation and influence of future growth.

Also open to entries this year is the Independent Business of the Year Award, supported by Winchester BID.

This award aims to recognise the substantial ongoing contribution that independent businesses make in growing and sustaining the economy as well as providing excellent customer experiences.

The judges will be looking for: consistently excellent market and customer engagement, ability to adapt to changing trends, ability to engage and contribute to ‘Winchester Life’ and demonstration of helping to help promote fellow independent businesses.

The winner of each category will automatically be entered to win the prestigious Simplyhealth Business of the Year Award.

The award ceremony and dinner will take place on Friday, June 1 at Winchester Guildhall and all finalists will receive two tickets, with additional tickets available to purchase.

For information or to enter, visit the Winchester Business Excellence Awards www.winchesterbusinessawards.co.uk.