Stirling’s business owners have been recognised for their achievements and rewarded with trophies in the 2026 Stirling Business Awards.
The winners of 14 honours have been unveiled and trophies were presented to them by Go Forth Stirling Project Director Danielle McRorie-Smith during visits to their business premises.
The exceptional business owners, charitable organisations and their teams – plus the winner of the Outstanding Woman in Business Award – were chosen by the public during a final selection process which saw nearly 11,000 votes cast.
Among the winners was Strathcarron Hospice which scooped the Charity of the Year Award in the same year the organisation is marking 45 years of care after opening in 1981.
Strathcarron CEO Mags McCarthy said: “We really are overwhelmed with this show of recognition from the people of Stirling and would like to say a huge thank you to those who voted for us to be Charity of the Year in the Stirling Business Awards.
“This is a huge honour and privilege and reflects the regard to which our wonderful community holds us. Everything we do in our community, is for our community, and with our community, to enable people to live and die well.
“To receive this accolade in our 45th anniversary year makes the award even more special and we hope to be here for another 45 providing vital care for palliative and end of life patients and their loved ones.”
Meanwhile, Khyra Smith was awarded the Outstanding Woman in Business Award for her inspirational volunteer work with ‘safe haven’ charity Safebase.
Khyra, who works as a customer service adviser, volunteers with Safebase where she and her colleagues patrol the streets of Stirling and Falkirk at weekends to provide first aid and support to people who need help.
She said: “I’ve been volunteering with Safebase for about four years now and I really enjoy helping those who need support and meeting different people.
“I was quite surprised to be nominated but it meant a lot and then it was eye opening to hear how many people were voting for me and to win was just amazing. I’m only 21 and feel absolutely honoured to receive this award – I always try to do the best I can so this will inspire me to continue doing that.”
The annual awards, which are in their fourth year, are organised by Go Forth Stirling BID (Business Improvement District).
Ms McRorie-Smith said: “The Stirling Business Awards have once again been well supported by the business community and the public and we were delighted to recognise and reward our entrepreneurial business owners and their teams.
“The Awards were slightly different this year as we decided not to host an evening ceremony, but we really enjoyed going out to the business premises of all the winners and presenting them with their trophies.
“It was wonderful to see the surprise and delight on their faces when we revealed they had won and a couple became quite emotional as they spoke about how much the award meant to them and their colleagues. That was wonderful to hear.”
Trophies were handed out in 14 award categories including Independent Retailer of the Year which was won by The Scottish Gantry, based in Stirling Arcade, and Retailer of the Year won by Marks & Spencer.
Popular Irish pub Molly Malones was named Bar/Club of the Year while the honour for Stirling’s Café of the Year went to Port Street venue Janna’s Bakery.
Owner Janna Koc, who recently opened a new Turkish restaurant named Tava in the city centre, was overjoyed to win after being shortlisted on several occasions over the years.
She said: “I’m proud and over the moon to win – it’s a very nice feeling! It was quite unexpected and I appreciate the great support we’ve had from the community and all our followers. It means the world to me.”
Stirling’s Restaurant of the Year was won by Friars Street fine dining restaurant An Darna while the award for Stirling’s Hair & Beauty Business of the Year was won by the Studio Twenty Two salon on Barnton Street.
Boutique hotel King Street Aparthotel, founded by Neil Munday and Paul Murray, was named Accommodation of the Year while Crafted Dental, run by Caitlin Watson, won the award for Service-led Business of the Year.
Mr Munday said: “We’re delighted to win the award which comes after our first full season of trading. It’s great to be recognised in a city with lots of accommodation providers and is testament to the hard work which is put in especially by our housekeeping and maintenance teams.
“They consistently keep on top of everything, and our reviews reflect this with many comments about our attention to detail and cleanliness.”
Dr Watson, who opened her dental practice last April, said: “We’re really chuffed to win the Service-led Business of the Year Award as it is a real recognition of how well we are treating people and reflects the positive reviews and messages we receive from clients about their experience with us.”
Popular takeaway Souperb, which specialises in homemade soup, was the winner of New Business of the Year while the team from Stirling Castle were delighted to be named the city’s Visitor Attraction of the Year.
The Most Attractive Shop Front award was won by King Street store Made in Stirling while the Charity Shop of the Yearwas SOSN (Something Old Something New), based in the Thistles, which raises funds for research into Parkinson’s Disease.
SOSN was set up by John Lange whose life changed forever when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2005 at the age of 44. After initially founding a support group for younger people with Parkinson’s, John went on to establish SOSN in 2015 as a not-for-profit business he runs with his wife Anne.
He said: “I am absolutely chuffed to bits to receive this award. It’s all down to the fantastic service our team of volunteers provides to our customers and Anne and I are truly grateful for their support and the generosity with which they give their time.”
The full list of award winners is as follows:
Outstanding Woman in Business – Khyra Smith of Safebase
Charity of the Year – Strathcarron Hospice
Restaurant of the Year – An Darna
Café/Coffee Shop of the Year – Janna’s Bakery
Independent Retailer of the Year – The Scottish Gantry
Retailer of the Year – Marks & Spencer
Visitor Attraction of the Year – Stirling Castle
Pub/Bar of the Year – Molly Malones
Hair & Beauty Business of the Year – Studio Twenty Two
New Business of the Year – Souperb
Accommodation of the Year – King Street Aparthotel
Service-led Business of the Year – Crafted Dental
Charity Shop of the Year – SOSN
Most Attractive Shop Front – Made in Stirling
The Stirling Business Awards showcase the hardworking owners and teams behind Stirling’s flourishing business community.
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Go Forth Stirling is the city’s BID representing more than 600 business owners with a key objective of increasing visitors to the city and devising initiatives to help make it a more welcoming destination for businesses and shoppers.
For more information, visit www.goforthstirling.co.uk
