The Winchester Business Excellence Awards are being held tonight at Winchester College. 

The Winchester Business Excellence Awards are organised in partnership by the Hampshire Chronicle, Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and Winchester BID and were open to businesses within the Winchester District to recognise their achievements.

This year's event is sponsored by Paris Smith, Dutton Gregory, Winchester City Council, Winchester University, Winchester BID, Azets, Gentian and Ridge & Partners. The awards are also supported by Natwest, Honey & Harvey, Little Kitchen and Chesil House and are open to businesses within the Winchester district.

Judging this year’s awards 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 Edward Goldsack, Kimberley Barber regional editor (Hampshire weeklies) and the category sponsors.

READ MORE: Record entries for the Winchester Business Excellence Awards

Mr Mills-Goodlet said: “The Winchester Business Excellence Awards bring together the very best of businesses in the Winchester district, recognising and showcasing their achievements. This year we saw a record number of 193 entries for the competition across the different categories. The judging panel were impressed with the high standards of business practice displayed throughout the process and deciding on an overall winner was a tough task. I would like to thank everyone who entered the competition and congratulate all those who have been shortlisted for the awards.”

The 2023 finalists are: 
Business Leader: Cait Salanson - The Little Kitchen Company, Deryck Newland - Play to the Crowd, Natalie Evans - Little Barn Door.    

Creative and Cultural: Integr8 Dance, Play to the Crowd, The Gurkha Museum.

Technology and Digital Innovation: Experience Hampshire, JPLD, Kid-A, 878 AD (part of Hampshire Cultural Trust).

Large Business: Dutton Gregory Solicitors, Rawlings Opticians & Hearing Care, Ridge and Partners LLP.

New Business: Cafe ROST, House of Boêmia, Seen Agency.

Service Excellence: Nony Kerr-Smiley Estate Agents, The Winchester Bed Company, Trethowans LLP.

SME/Independent Business: Cabinet Rooms, New Energy Yoga, Parchment Jewellers.

Social Enterprise and Charity: Emmaus Hampshire, Winchester Go LD, Winchester Street Reach.

Sustainable Business: Aspiga, Chococo, Handlebar Cafe, Ridge and Partners LLP.