POLAR explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes is coming in from the cold to be the high-profile speaker at next month's Basingstoke business Awards gala dinner.

His determination, single-mindedness and feats of endeavour to become a world-renowned explorer will give inspiration to the business community as it gathers for a glittering evening at Milestones museum to honour the winners and finalists of the 2003 awards.

Sir Ranulph, 59, recently ran seven marathons in seven days on seven continents with Dr Mike Stroud - even after suffering a major heart attack and having a double bypass operation last June.

In 1984, he was described as the "world's greatest explorer" in the Guinness Book of Records, and he was one of the first-ever people to reach both Poles by surface travel.

The 2003 Basingstoke Business Awards are the biggest and best-ever in the awards' six-year history. They have attracted a record-breaking level of entries from all sectors of the borough's successful economic profile.

Entries have come in from some of Basingstoke's major players and employers, such as pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, computer manufacturer Centerprise International and consulting engineers Scott Wilson.

Smaller, family-run companies have also been active, with entrants including Greenhouse Graphics, which is bidding to scoop the newly-introduced Environmental Award.

If Greenhouse Graphics is a winner, it would be a very special prize for co-founder Timi van Houten as she was presented with her degree in ecology at Loughborough by Sir Ranulph, who also holds an honorary degree from the university.

Timi went on to study for a post-graduate qualification in graphic design at Reading University before setting up Greenhouse Graphics.

She is no stranger to business awards. She was a finalist in the Women in Business Awards in 1988, and in 2001 Greenhouse Graphics won the Small Business category in the Basingstoke Business Awards. Last year, her company was also a finalist in the Small Business and Business in the Community categories.

Timi said: "I will try to chat with Sir Ranulph and remind him that he presented me with my degree.

It would be fun to meet him and I imagine he has a lot of interesting things to talk about."

The gala black tie dinner, for which tickets cost £35, is on February 3. As well as being the guest speaker, Sir Ranulph will be the MC for the evening.

Judging is now in its final stages in the six categories - the Barclays Asset Finance-sponsored Small Business of the Year Award, the Gazette Newspapers-sponsored Business in the Community Award, the Carbon Trust Environmental Award, the Hampshire County Council New Business of the Year Award, the HSBC Contribution to the Economy Award and the Basingstoke council Business Excellence Through People Award.

Additional prizes are being presented by accountants and business advisors Tenon and The ARK conference centre. The champagne reception before the gala dinner will be sponsored by MEPC, owners of Chineham Business Park.

For information on ticket availability, contact Anne Jackson on 07717 128682.