Stirling is gearing up to celebrate its unique range of independent retailers with the launch of the city’s 2025 Business Awards.
Organisers Go Forth Stirling have announced the popular honours will return for a third year with the awards ceremony taking place on Thursday 27 February, 2025 at the Albert Halls.
The launch comes as Scotland Loves Local Week, run by Scotland’s Towns Partnership, kicks off with a series of activities highlighting how shoppers can boost their local economies and make a major difference to their communities by choosing to shop local.
Go Forth Stirling Project Director Danielle McRorie-Smith said: “Scotland Loves Local Week is the ideal time to announce the third year of our awards scheme and encourage local people to support and celebrate our fantastic business community.
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“The awards are an opportunity to highlight and reward the wide range of independent shops, attractions, hospitality venues, beauty salons and other businesses we are lucky enough to have in Stirling and we look forward to seeing everyone’s nominations.
“The first two Stirling Business Awards were an enormous success with thousands of votes coming in from members of the public and the events were well-attended by business owners.
“We hope to repeat that achievement with our third awards programme and are looking forward to returning to the same venue – the Albert Halls – which was perfect for last year’s event.”
Nominations for the Stirling Business Awards 2025 – which will again cover 11 categories – open today and close on Friday 25 October at 5pm.
Initially, voters will have the chance to suggest local businesses for the various honours via a dedicated webpage – www.independentstirling.co.uk/awards
The awards categories include Café/Coffee Shop of The Year, Visitor Attraction of the Year, Hair & Beauty Business of the Year and Retailer of the Year.
There is also a New Business of the Year Award – recognising businesses which began trading in 2024 – and a Business Support Service of the Year honour to reward companies which offer services such as graphic design, accountancy, IT consultancy and more.
Further honours include Service-led Business of the Year, covering healthcare firms, solicitors, tailors and estate agents, Restaurant of the Year and Pub/Bar of the Year.
The Charity of the Year Award and the special honour of Outstanding Contribution to Stirling are also returning for nominations.
Nominees should be independent businesses based within the city centre BID zone.
After nominations close in October, a longlist of the most popular businesses will be announced and a second round of voting will open to choose a shortlist of winners in each category.
Voting will close just before Christmas with the shortlist announced in January 2025.
Go Forth Stirling are also seeking sponsors for the honours including an overall main sponsor and sponsors for each award category.
Ms McRorie-Smith said: “We’re looking for sponsors who are keen to demonstrate their commitment to our business community by backing the awards.
“In return, we can offer the opportunity to position your brand alongside a high-profile occasion which has become a highlight of Stirling’s annual events calendar.”
Meanwhile, Scotland Loves Local Week runs from today until Sunday 1 September and the Go Forth team will be getting involved by championing local businesses and encouraging people to #ChooseLocal.
Love Local Week, which is now in its second year, aims to spotlight the issues affecting towns and galvanise support for the people and businesses who live and work within them.
For more information go to www.lovelocal.scot
Go Forth Stirling is the city’s Business Improvement District (BID) which represents 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
