Law firm’s first back in drive for excellence (From Daily Echo)

Law firm’s first back in drive for excellence

3:54pm Friday 17th February 2012 in Hampshire Business

A LEADING firm of solicitors has been named as the first sponsor of this year’s premier south coast business awards.

Trethowans has confirmed that it will once again be supporting the South Coast Business Awards after a succesful inaugural event.

The Southampton and Salisbury based law firm, which employs more than 140 people, will again sponsor the Excellence Through Innovation Award. The blue ribbon event is organised by the Daily Echo and Business Solent, a network of over 160 leading employers, to celebrate the brilliance in Hampshire business.

Trethowans’ managing partner Simon Rhodes said: “We were delighted to support the inaugural South Coast Business Awards last year.

“Southampton needed these awards. It was great to hear about the hard work done by so many local businesses. The awards ceremony itself was a very good evening.

“i2O Water who won our category last year are an amazing business. They put down their roots in our region and have quickly developed into a global business. The fact that their products are saving water right across the world is a fantastic achievement.

“With businesses like them involved, we were very keen to sponsor an award again this year. “ Mr Rhodes urged business owners or managers to apply for at least one of this year’s awards. Further sponsors are due to be announced.

This year’s awards will be officially launched at the end of March before the awards evening is staged in July.

Industry leaders from across the county descended on Southampton’s De Vere Grand Harbour Hotel for last year’s sell-out awards ceremony where nine fiercely-contested gongs were handed out.

Southampton’s i20 Water was named as the overall business of the year for its work to combat water shortages around the world.