Ahead of the upcoming Autumn Statement, it was really helpful - and uplifting - to meet local businesses of all sizes alongside Hart District Council at the Inspire Business Awards.
A number of businesses from North East Hampshire were finalists, including Odiham Cake Company, Mama & Belle and Vintage Roots - with Fleet Mortgages, R Collard and Hartletts Café winning their respective categories too!
It's always helpful to hear what government can do better but, in the curren...t climate, it was great for us all to hear of the successes in our local economy. Given the energy within our businesses, it's no wonder Britain has the fastest growing economy in the G7, with more people in work than ever before - and youth unemployment in North East Hampshire down is by a quarter since last year.