THE finalists for the 2021 Winchester Business Excellence Awards have been announced.

The awards are organised in partnership by the Hampshire Chronicle, Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and Winchester BID.

They were open to businesses within the district to recognise their achievements.

This year’s event is kindly sponsored by Dutton Gregory, Paris Smith, University of Winchester, Winchester BID and Winchester City Council.

Judging were Winchester Business Excellence Awards head judge, Group Managing Director of Winchester Motor Group and Chair of the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce Winchester Business Strategy Group Mark Mills-Goodlet; Winchester BID Executive Director Paul Spencer; NatWest Senior Relationship Manager Rebecca Gleeson; and the category sponsors.

Mr Mills-Goodlet said: “The judging panel were impressed by the number and quality of entries for the Winchester Business Excellence Awards for 2021 and it was evident that nearly all businesses had evolved over the last eighteen months to conform with the new ‘socially distanced’ way of trading brough on by the pandemic.

“All the categories were keenly fought and some were difficult to call a winner due to the high levels of business practice displayed.

“I would like to congratulate all the nominees and we now look forward to the awards ceremony which will be a much-needed celebration of business across the Winchester district and an opportunity to meet and network with friends and business associates.”

The 2021 finalists, in alphabetical order, are:

Business Leader

Ben Talbot - FatFace

James Poore – JPLD

Rebecca Smith - Open House Deli

Charity Award

Citizens Advice

MHA Communities Winchester

Winchester Churches Nightshelter

Digital Innovation

Donater Ltd

Ridge and Partners LLP

The Gurkha Museum

Large Business

Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists Ltd

Diametric Technical Ltd

Ridge and Partners LLP

New Business

Adventure 360

Earthian Zero Waste Shop

ElectroClean

Service Excellence Award

Arcana Hair and Beauty

New Energy

Winchester Magazine

SME

Dybles Estate Agent

Sass and Edge

Toscanaccio

Social Enterprise Awards

ActiveMe 360

Heather Evans Bespoke Biking

Unit 12 CIC

Sustainable Business

Earthian Zero Waste Shop

FatFace

Montezuma’s Chocolate

Coverage of the awards ceremony will be covered in the paper and on our website.