IN THE vibrant business landscape of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, the South Coast Business Awards, sponsored by Lee Peck Media, honour and celebrate the tremendous contributions of businesses across various sectors.

These awards recognise and showcase the exceptional achievements of companies, underscoring their importance to the local economy.

Lee Peck Media, an independent PR and communications agency headquartered in Southampton, stands among the leading firms in the South.

With a portfolio of blue chip clients locally, regionally, and internationally, they are thrilled to be associated with these prestigious awards.

Founder and MD Lee Peck believes that newspapers, especially the esteemed Southern Daily Echo, are the heartbeat of the community and the go-to source for local and regional news.

Renowned for their credibility, the Echo’s reports are often the first to be referenced by broadcast media.

READ MORE: South Coast Business Awards 2023 is now open to entries

Across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, there is a diverse range of innovative industries, from food to fashion, tourism to technology, employing thousands of people, exporting globally, and attracting visitors to the region.

The South Coast Business Awards aim to celebrate the remarkable achievements of these businesses.

Companies with their head offices based within Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are invited to enter or be nominated for an award.

Once the nominations are received, a discerning judging panel will carefully evaluate them.

Additionally, some nominees may have the opportunity to be visited by a “mystery shopper” from the category sponsor, adding an element of excitement to the selection process.

The judges will announce the three finalists in each category on Tuesday, November 14th, with the category winners unveiled on Tuesday, November 28th, through the Daily Echo and dailyecho.co.uk.

Winners in each category will receive £500 worth of advertising in the Daily Echo or on dailyecho.co.uk, providing valuable exposure to further their success.

They will also be featured in the category winners’ coverage in the Daily Echo, amplifying their achievements to a wider audience.

Among the distinguished categories is the “Best Small Business” award, acknowledging dynamic companies with less than 25 employees and a turnover of under £5 million. These businesses must have been trading for a minimum of 18 months.

The judges seek commercial success, future objectives for business growth, as well as innovation and creativity.

Nominees should demonstrate evidence of positive change in the last 12 months or articulate a strategy for change in the upcoming 12 months.

While the “Best Small Business” award is one highlight, there are several other coveted accolades to recognise excellence in various areas, such as the Innovation Excellence Award, Service Excellence Award, Employer Award, Entrepreneur Award, Business Leader Award, New Business Award (for businesses opened in the last 2 years), Mid-Large Business Award, Business and the Community Award, and Use of Technology Award.

To enter the awards, simply visit dailyecho.co.uk/awards before September 17.