GOOD business is about more than good impressions – it’s about lasting ones.

That’s according to multi-award winning Footprint Communications, based in Alresford.

The PR and marketing agency is this year’s sponsor of the Sustainable Business of the Year Award for INSPIRE12 Business Awards.

Last year’s award certainly left a lasting impression with the team at Footprint Communications, as the firm was a finalist in the Small Business of the Year category.

“That’s why we wanted to get involved with this year’s awards,” said managing director Vanessa Gardner.

“We were very impressed with the awards dinner at INSPIRE11. We all had a great time and we realised that there was a great calibre of companies taking part.

“It was also a great networking opportunity for us, and through our time at the awards, we managed to pick up a contact for a new business.

“So it’s an event for championing local businesses and also a great place to make new contacts and keep business going. Everyone we have spoken to about the awards has given it glowing reports.”

Vanessa said sponsoring the Sustainable Business of the Year Award ties in very much with the ethos of Footprint Communications.

She said: “We decided to sponsor this award as sustainability has always been a passion for us and we’ve made it more of our business focus after we had a slight rebrand earlier this year.

“It’s become much more of our focus to deal with businesses and help businesses to communicate their corporate social responsibility and deal with like minded people, championing that side of business. So it’s a natural tie-up with us to sponsor this award.”

The category – one of 12 awards on offer – is open to businesses that can demonstrate how they have embedded environmental and sustainability issues into their business. This can relate directly to the use of sustainable materials, reducing waste and energy use, reducing carbon emissions, use of sustainable suppliers, or indeed innovative ways of developing sustainability across business functions.

“We can’t wait to hear about all the good work that is going on,” said Vanessa. “And we obviously see the value in awards like INSPIRE12, where people get the recognition for what they are doing.”

To find out more about the awards, or to make a nomination, visit inspirebusinessawards.co.uk.