WINCHESTER University has stepped forward as a sponsor for this year’s Business Excellence Awards.

The university has announced plans to sponsor the Entrepreneur of the Year award for the second year running in a bid to recognise innovative individuals in business who show a clear level of leadership.

Trish Kernan, business development manager, said: “The university is proud to sponsor the Entrepreneur of the Year award again this year. Entrepreneurs play a vital role in economic development and we actively encourage entrepreneurship and business creation as a possible career option for our graduates.

“To support them we offer awards comprising small amounts of start-up funding combined with mentoring to help them develop their enterprises and remain in the area, contributing to its culture and economy.

“We also offer inspiration and advice to enterprising individuals and organisations in the wider community with talks, events and programmes hosted by Winchester Business School and other departments across the university.”

The university caters for over 6,400 students offering a variety of programmes of study supported by the teaching and research staff.

Its mission is ‘to educate, to advance knowledge and to serve the public good’, providing courses from bachelor degrees to professional development courses, postgraduate certificates and research degrees, in areas including business, humanities, social sciences, and health and social care.

Judges will be looking for a clear vision backed by strong ambition and a determination to succeed as well as dynamic and inspirational leadership. Those creative, with an inexhaustible supply of energy, with the ability to respond to changes in the market with imaginative solutions will be considered ideal candidates.

Winchester City Council is also sponsoring one of this year’s awards by awarding business owners keen on supporting the environment with the Carbon Smart Award.

Council leader, Cllr Rob Humby, said: “This award will go to a business that is making real progress to reduce their carbon emissions. They must also be able to demonstrate that they use sound environmental management to support their business.”

In partnership with The Carbon Smart Winchester Programme, the council will be looking for innovators and entrepreneurs to lead the way by setting an example in the way they minimise their impact upon the environment.

Businesses must be registered with the Carbon Smart Winchester accreditation scheme to be eligible and judges will be looking for clear leadership within the organisation combined with a commitment to improve environmental practices.

Applicants have until 5pm on February 27 to enter. Companies within the Winchester district are encouraged to enter.

For more details click here or winchesterbusinessawards.co.uk.