Today saw the official launch of Inspire 08 at The Anvil in Basingstoke, with speeches from Councillor George Hood, Mayor of Basingstoke; Phil Wilding of Business Link; James Hague of last years Business of the Year - Daisy’s Dairy (pictured) - and Andrew Finney, leader of Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council.

Inspire 08 promises to be bigger and better than last years event event for Basingstoke & Deane, with seminars and network opportunities with the highlight being the Inspire 08 Business Awards, with four added categories for 2008 to cover:

• Business of the Year
• Exporter of the Year
• Rural Business of the Year
• Sustainable Business of the Year
• E-Business of Year
• Basingstoke Business Personality of the Year
• New Business of the Year
• Business Woman of the Year
• Employer of the Year

Basingstoke-based businesses are being encouraged to enter the Inspire 08 Business Awards with some encouraging words from James Hague, who spoke about the opportunities his business had derived from winning last years award.

As ever, the event will be covered heavily in The Gazette and there is also the Inspire website, with contact details for your business entry, or for sponsor opportunities and table reservations for the event.

Picture below, Councillor Andrew Finney.