BUSINESSES will once again gather for the Winchester Business Excellence Awards when they are launched later this month.

Now in its 12th year and hosted by the Winchester Business Improvement District (BID), Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and the Hampshire Chronicle, the competition aims to recognise the achievements of local businesses.

Businesses within the Winchester district are invited to find out more about the awards on January 23, at the Holiday Inn at Morn Hill, where they will be able to register themselves into any one of eight award categories.

The deadline for registration is March 7.

Entrees will then be shortlisted for the awards ceremony on Friday, June 13, at the Guildhall.

Kit Finney, chairman of the Winchester Business Excellence Awards judging panel 2014 and director of JCF Financial, said: “The Business Excellence Awards is renowned across the district as a highly prestigious event and if you are in business in the Winchester area it is a very worthwhile investment of your time to be involved.”