INSPIRE12 - North Hampshire Business Awards
The 2012 Awards will be launched at the Be Inspired Business Event to be held on Thursday 19 April 2012 in Belvedere House, Basing View Basingstoke.
INSPIRE11 - North Hampshire Business Award Winners Announced
Nearly 500 people representing businesses from right across north Hampshire gathered on Thursday evening (10th November) 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, 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.
The 2011 Winners
Small Business of the Year – Sponsor - North Hampshire Enterprise
• Winner:
Spirals Hair Salon
, Hook
Spirals Hair Salon have a very personal story about a woman who has built a successful and sustainable business, from very humble beginnings and with more than her share of set backs. Now boasting a 95% repeat visit rate from customers, and using her own innovative marketing tools to compensate for a non high street location have proved that quality of service is key to success in this competitive market. June Lee of Spirals has shown an excellent commitment to her team through training and has carefully planned growth to minimise risk and allow market testing before commitment
• Runners Up:
Footprint Communications, Alresford and Alison’s Wonderland /Parlour Tea rooms, Basingstoke
New Business of the Year Award – Sponsor - The Escape
• Winner:
Gig on the Green
, Yateley
The Gig on the Green - a new venture developed by Yateley Sports CIC, creating a successful and very profitable event in a very short timescale from a shoestring budget. Judges felt that the winner, stood out because of their determination and resourcefulness in undertaking a new venture that many would view as daunting. Their ultimate aim was that the whole local community would benefit. They achieved their desired result of a hugely successful event entertaining both young and old alike – and made it profitable.
• Runners Up:
The Letteroom and My Daisy Nursery
Exporter of the Year – Sponsor - HSBC
• Winner:
Vectair
In 2005 Vectair set themselves an ambitious target of £1m a year growth from export sales in their sector of washroom products, which they have achieved, increasing turnover from export from 24% in 2005 to over 60% in 2010. Judges were especially impressed with the targeted export strategy to focus on specific international growth markets and their approach to working with overseas suppliers adapting their products to maximise their penetration of the market and using their understanding of local requirements.
• Runners Up:
J & J Carters,
Andover and
Postjet Systems
, Basingstoke
Young Business Person of the Year - Sponsor –Hampshire County Council
• Winner:
Victoria Peterkin
Victoria Peterkin is a young woman who has created a successful nursery business, driven by a passion to provide the best care for young children. She felt that being young was not always an advantage when negotiating business deals, but her determination, and clear business planning meant she has been very successful in a short time. Victoria has taken the initiative to train to fill gaps in her knowledge constantly looking for improvement. Victoria’s passion and drive helped to make her business a success and promises to continue to develop well into the future.
• Runners Up :
Matthew Drinkwater
(Audley’s Wood Hotel) and
Helen McCusker
(BookedPR)
Entrepreneur of the Year – Sponsor – RSMTenon
• Winner:
Sam Willoughby
Sam Willoughby developed the Whatson4 family of web sites from her kitchen table in Bramley and has gone on to expand the brand globally showing true entrepreneurial spirit in selling franchises in a number of countries at the same time as expanding the scope of the services through the acquisition of another business. Sam’s business success has been founded on a commitment and drive that make her a real entrepreneur in north Hampshire.
• Runners Up:
Ian Spence
(IS Research), Rotherwick and
Paul Turner
(A Turner & Sons), Aldershot
Sustainable Business of the Year - Sponsor– Veolia
• Winner:
Vitacress
, St Mary Bourne
Vitacress Salads are a leading force in the farming of salad produce and they must comply with a wide range of environmental legislative requirements, but Vitacress have taken their guardianship of the north Hampshire countryside much further, signing up to conservation grade farming, protecting habitats, using sustainable crop rotation practices and as well as conserving water and employing a dedicated engineer to manage waste. Vitacress demonstrate that good environmental practice is a worthwhile investment in a business with a valuable return. Judges were impressed with the holistic approach of Vitacress, providing a shining example to how agricultural production can reduce its impact on the environment
• Runners Up :
HCR,
Basingstoke and
Haste Ltd.
On Line Excellence Award – Sponsor – Sardine Media and Minuteman Press
• Winner:
Carbon Footprint
Carbon Footprint have built their business helping other businesses to become carbon neutral, their web tools have been used by businesses worldwide allowing them to calculate emissions and their web site attracts 1.4million unique visitors a year. Judges felt this business had really demonstrated that they used the internet and digital technologies to add value to their business – marketing their services to a truly global audience – without having to travel!
• Runners Up:
The Nautical Company and The Reseller Network
Service Excellence Award – Sponsor – The Ark
• Winner:
Central Heating Services
, Farnborough & Basingstoke
Central Heating Services provide comprehensive maintenance and installation services counting many housing associations among their customers, they have built an exemplary reputation for customer service facilitated by job tracking systems allowing provision of rapid response and quality service. Their successful business has been built on repeat business and customer loyalty.
• Runners Up:
Woodland and Hillbrow
and
YBC Cleaning
Innovation Excellence Award - Sponsor - The Innovation Centre
• Winner:
Postjet Systems Ltd
., Basingstoke
Postjet Systems Ltd not only have an outstanding knowledge of what is required for their products to be market leaders within their sector, but they are constantly striving to push boundaries through the use of their innovative systems, technology and components creating a unique product in printing specifically for secure postal systems. Its unique features have just won them a $5.4m contract with the US postal service.
• Runners Up :
nDreams
and
Remote Diagnostic Technologies.
Employer of the Year Award – Sponsor – HW Accountants
• Winner:
Woodlands and Hillbrow
, Fleet
Woodlands and Hillbrow – the residential care business does not always have the best reputation for staff conditions, but Woodland Hillbrow has been demonstrating excellence and investment in its staff development programme and comprehensive training for many years , encouraging a passion for care of their residents, managing talent and allowing staff to develop their careers within the organisation such that the majority of current managers have been promoted from within.
• Runners Up:
Huawei
, Basingstoke and
Vitacress
, St Mary Bourne
Lifetime Achievement Award– Sponsor – Kestrel FM
• Winner:
Dick Oram
, Hampshire Chamber of Commerce
Dick Oram is a man who’s commitment is undoubted with a distinguished career in the electronics industry, and continues into so-called retirement leading and influencing the business community through his work with the Hampshire Chamber of commerce as well as in his roles as deputy chair of the Hampshire Economic Partnership and Chairman of First partnership.
Business of the Year – Sponsor – Wilding Butler
• Winner:
HCR
, Basingstoke
HCR - a relocation company that has grown, diversified and distinguished itself through the recession with a 98% satisfaction rate from customers as well as taking their sustainability policies into the heart of the businesses’s ethos. Investment in staff and the wider community as part of their corporate social responsibility is also an important part of their business culture.
• Runners Up:
Vectair
and
The Andwell Brewery
For more information please see
www.inspirebusinessawards.co.uk
INSPIRE11 is organised and managed by
Event Sponsors
