There are so many fabulous community-focused businesses in Basingstoke and Deane – and one of them will take home a coveted prize from this year’s landmark A Place to be Proud of Awards.

The Business and the Community Award is sponsored by Shaw Gibbs.

Tim Smith, the Partner in charge of Shaw Gibbs Basingstoke comments:

“Shaw Gibbs are delighted to sponsor the Business and the Community Award at this milestone A Place to be Proud of Awards. “While we have only this month opened our office in Basingstoke, we were very keen to sponsor this award at the 20^th birthday event. Our team have been part of the Basingstoke business community for many years and involved in many wider initiatives.”

“Shaw Gibbs are passionate about the importance of business being part of, and supporting, the wider community. Our culture is based on treating people as you would like to be treated. here are so many people and businesses that deserve recognition, and myself and fellow judges of the Business and the Community category look forward to hearing about those businesses that have gone above and beyond to make a difference to the local community.”

The Business and the Community Award recognises staff from a business that that makes a difference to life in the borough. This could include fundraising activities, volunteer activities, or supporting other community projects.

Destination Basingstoke chair Jonathan Pender said:

“The A Place to be Proud of Awards is always a special occasion, and this year’s event will be particularly memorable as we celebrate the 20^th year of the awards.

“Destination Basingstoke, with the support of fantastic sponsors and key partners, has been delighted to deliver these awards for many years, and it is always wonderful to put the spotlight on the people, businesses and community organisations that make Basingstoke and Deane a place to be proud of.

I am delighted that Shaw Gibbs has joined our list of wonderful sponsors whose support for the awards demonstrates their commitment to celebrating the great people, businesses and community groups in Basingstoke and Deane.”

It was back in 2003 that the first awards were launched – and since then, hundreds of wonderful finalists and winners have been recognised for their outstanding achievements in, or contributions to, Basingstoke and Deane.

There are a range of categories, sponsored by local businesses. The awards, which will be presented at a special event at the Haymarket Theatre on Thursday, June 8, are free to enter, and the categories are:

• Health & Wellbeing Award – sponsored by Lilly
• Community Project Award – sponsored by Destination Basingstoke
• Above and Beyond Award – sponsored by Castle Trust Bank
• Volunteer of the Year Award – sponsored by Beaufort Financial (Reading)
• Arts & Entertainment Award – sponsored by Basingstoke Community Radio
• Young Role Model Award – sponsored by Queen Mary’s College
• Unsung Hero Award – sponsored by Champion Group
• Business and the Community Award – sponsored by Shaw Gibbs

As well as celebrating this year’s finalists and winners, the 2023 A Place to be Proud of Awards is offering past winners the chance to make a welcome return and be part of this memorable evening.

One hundred free tickets have been reserved for past winners on a first come, first served basis. To get yours, please email Mark Jones on mark.jones@destinationbasingstoke.co.uk, stating what award you won and when. The deadline to register for these free tickets is Friday, April 14 but this opportunity will close early if all the tickets are taken and allocated.

Destination Basingstoke will once again be working with Basingstoke Voluntary Action, as a key partner, to help ensure the call to nominate reaches every part of the community, and Gazette Newspapers, which was a founder of the awards in 2003, is the media partner for the 20^th year.

Nominations can be made online at www.destinationbasingstoke.co.uk  and the closing date is April 28, 2023. All nominees of finalists will be invited to the awards ceremony.