INSPIRE Business Award categories and sponsors for 2025 - Closing date for entries is Friday, February 28, 2025
Headline sponsor
Apprentice/Trainee of the Year Award
Apprentice/Trainee of the Year Award category is open to apprentice/trainee in whatever businesses regardless of size or sector.
Applicants should be over 16 and in a 6 month or longer apprenticeship or trainee programme, that includes work experience and a formal training programme either in-house or at a tertiary education establishment.
Judges are looking for an apprentice or trainee who is clearly committed to your business, who demonstrates customer focus, innovation and skills which support your business.
Sponsored by:
Small Business of the Year Award
The Small Business of the Year Award category is open to dynamic business with an annual turnover of under £3million. The business must demonstrate outstanding achievement in all areas of their business.
The judges are looking for an all-round excellence in business. The judges will focus on trading performance, future objectives and implemented strategies that have driven business growth
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New Business of the Year Award
The New Business of the Year Award category is open to dynamic businesses whose business started trading on or after January 1, 2023.
The judges will be looking for how you developed your business idea into a thriving business. They want to see how the business is trading, your goals and objectives to grow your business, and your strategic plans for the future
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Service Excellence Award
The Service Excellence Award recognises and rewards a top-performing business based on the quality of service offered.
Judges are looking for a business which shows a clear focus and understanding of their customer’s needs. Evidence should be provided of customer driven initiatives designed to raise service standards and increase customer satisfaction. Businesses need to demonstrate how they exemplify in outstanding customer service, consistently delivered at the highest level, by a customer focused individual or team.
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Wellbeing Champion Award
Wellbeing Champion award will recognise and reward a top performing business based on the quality of idea/service offered. The award will be presented to an organisation that can demonstrate a dedicated commitment to delivering outstanding employee wellbeing.
Judges are looking for companies that deliver outstanding employee wellbeing. They want to see at least one or two innovative initiatives that demonstrate why your company delivers sustainable, employee wellbeing.
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Medium Business of the Year Award
The Medium Business of the Year Award category is open to dynamic business with an annual turnover of between £3 million and £10 million. The business must demonstrate outstanding achievement in all areas of their business
Judges are looking for businesses that have a strong commitment to the area and can demonstrate their achievements
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Best Place to Work
Best Place to Work Award category will be given to the business that can best prove a genuine dedication to their workforce, over and above any statutory duty.
Judges are looking for the evolution of employee engagement within your company and the impact on the workplace work ethos and culture within the organisation.
Sponsored by:
Business and the Community
The Business and the Community Award is open to businesses that, in addition to their commercial activities go over and above to create a positive, sustainable and societal impact as part of their corporate and social responsibility role.
The judges are looking for an all-round excellence in business. The judges will focus on trading performance, future objectives and implemented strategies that have driven business growth.
Judges are looking for companies that deliver outstanding employee wellbeing. They want to see at least one or two innovative initiatives that demonstrate why your company delivers sustainable, employee wellbeing
Sponsored by:
Rural Business of the Year Award
Rural Business of the Year Award category is open to dynamic businesses which are based in the Basingstoke and Deane borough, outside of Basingstoke town centre.
Judges are looking to celebrate the contribution made by business in the rural community. Judges are looking for resilience, innovation and contributions these businesses make to the rural economy.
Sponsored by:
Young Business Person of the Year Award
The Young Business Person of the Year Award is open to dynamic individuals under the age of 30 (as at April 1, 2025), running a business who can demonstrate great success and drive in growing their business.
Judges are looking for the contribution made by budding entrepreneurs in their new ventures, the impact they are having on the local and regional economy, and the innovation their business venture brings.
Sponsored by:
Sustainable Champion Award
The Sustainable Champion category is open to dynamic businesses regardless of size or sector.
Judges are looking for a business that demonstrates a commitment and tangible impact when it comes to sustainability – a business that is learning and sharing its experiences with others to support the move to a greener economy. Judges want to see how your business has improved its sustainable performance over the last 18 months.
Sponsored by:
Large Business of the Year Award
The Large Business of the Year Award category is open to dynamic business with an annual turnover of more than £10 million. The business must demonstrate outstanding achievement in all areas of their business.
The judges are looking for an all-round excellence in business. The judges will focus on trading performance, future objectives and implemented strategies that have driven business growth.
Sponsored by:
Winner of Winners Award
The Winner of Winners is chosen by the judges from the winners of each category.
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INSPIRE Awards Welcome reception
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Inspire Business Awards 2026 sponsors:
