Success at the Inspire awards!

22 Nov 11

Nearly 500 people representing businesses from right across north Hampshire gathered to celebrate their success in the area. The Awards, the largest in the region, are organised by Destination Basingstoke and sponsored by a wide range of businesses. They were held in at The Hampshire Court Hotel – transforming indoor tennis courts into a stylish dinner venue.


Twelve Awards were presented representing all sectors and sizes of business in the area with finalists coming from right across the region.
“This was the largest Awards dinner ever for INSPIRE, the response from businesses both in quantity and quality of nominations and the huge support from sponsors, has been unprecedented. The evening is the culmination of a year’s worth of preparations and seeing the reactions of everyone tonight it is one that will continue to grow in years to come”, commented Felicity Edwards, Managing Director of Destination Basingstoke.


Chamber Members who won Awards are …………………
Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by Kestrel FM: Dick Oram, President, Hampshire Chamber of Commerce "Receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award was a wonderful, but total surprise! To receive such an award is also enormously humbling in that it's a tacit statement of support from all the people who I have been and am honoured to work with over many years. I actually did take early retirement to spend my time working with various business and enterprise support organisations to encourage business in general and help generate ideas for growth and prosperity. In that sense and with no political axe-grinding, I believe that the principle of the LEP in bringing together business and the public sector is one of the more enlightened government initiatives of the last few years - in fact for many years! Making it work is the challenge and we surely have within the EM3, the skills and the determination to be successful!
Although I was unusually stuck for words when I received the award, I did say that a 'Lifetime Award' has a possible finite implication. I absolutely have not finished yet and I really look forward further positive cooperation with real tangible outcomes, in the company of a lot of hard-working and committed people, who I proudly count as friends. Thank you!"


Sustainable Business of the Year sponsored by Veolia: Vitacress, St Mary Bourne
“Winning the Sustainable Business Award at the Inspire Business Awards means a great deal to Vitacress. We operate our business in a beautiful part of rural Hampshire and take very seriously our responsibility to looking after the environment for current and future generations. The award fills Vitacress employees with great pride for recognising their long term commitment to the environment, some of whom were able to attend the ceremony and accept the award on behalf of all their colleagues.”


Service Excellence Award sponsored by The Ark Conference Centre: Central Heating Services, Farnborough and Basingstoke “These awards are hugely important, not only do they give us all the impetus to do better but help us show the quality that Central Heating Services both produce and achieve, demonstrating our approach to quality thus helping us to gain new business. It was also a really good evening which we shared with many of our staff who help us to achieve the quality we aim for. Long may it last!”


Business of the Year sponsored by Wilding Butler: HCR Ltd, Basingstoke “We have enjoyed considerable award success over the last few years, but to win such a prestigious local accolade was simply outstanding. I have to say that winning was absolutely a team effort, and all the staff at HCR were overjoyed to receive such striking recognition for their hard work, and there is definitely an element of pride in winning in our home county. It is incredibly rewarding to see our innovation and growth recognised by our region’s business community, and we will work hard to keep on winning in 2012 and beyond!”


Jill McDonagh of Hampshire Chamber was heavily involved with the Awards both as a steering group member and a judge. For full details of all the winners and runners up visit the link below

Useful links

www.inspirebusinessawards.co.uk