They are one of the most prestigious and long-running business excellence events in Hampshire – and now contenders can get in the running for the INSPIRE Business Awards 2024.

A total of 12 category awards and a Winner of Winners prize will be up for grabs in the 2024 event as organiser Destination Basingstoke increases the number of categories and the breadth of the awards.

The 2024 awards, which will culminate in an awards dinner at Oakley Hall on Thursday, July 11, have attracted great support from previous and new sponsors.

Shaw Gibbs, the Basing View-based accountants and business advisers, are the new sponsor of the Large Business of the Year category, while award-winning Basingstoke firm Centerprise International has come on board as sponsor of the Medium Business of the Year category.

Long-time sponsors Absolutely Offices, SNG (formerly Sovereign Housing) and Minuteman Press are all returning as category sponsors for the 2024 event, and other sponsors are set to sign up over the coming weeks. Hampshire Chamber of Commerce has also joined the roster of INSPIRE 2024 sponsors, and will be sponsoring the welcome drinks reception and networking event at the awards night.

The 2024 INSPIRE Business Awards categories, and sponsors so far, are:

Large Business of the Year – sponsored by Shaw Gibbs

Medium Business of the Year – sponsored by Centerprise International

Small Business of the Year – available for sponsorship

Wellbeing Champion – sponsored by SNG

Young Business Person of the Year – sponsored by Minuteman Press

Rural Business of the Year – available for sponsorship

Apprentice of the Year ­– available for sponsorship

Business and Community Champion – available for sponsorship

New Business of the Year – available for sponsorship

Service Excellence – available for sponsorship

Best Place to Work – available for sponsorship

Sustainable Champion – available for sponsorship

Winner of Winners – sponsored by Absolutely Offices

Awards Night Welcome Drinks Event sponsor – Hampshire Chamber of Commerce

Jonathan Pender, chair of Destination Basingstoke, said: “Destination Basingstoke is proud and honoured to be organising the INSPIRE Business Awards 2024. This is a long-running and prestigious annual awards event that showcases and celebrates the best individuals and organisations in local business.

“We are delighted to see some long-time sponsors returning and are also delighted to see new sponsors coming on board. INSPIRE Business Awards 2024 will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of next year’s local business calendar.”