Five businesses from across Scotland have been recognised by the Nation’s Favourite Businesses initiative ahead of Small Business Saturday 2026.
The campaign, which builds upon the established SmallBiz100 programme, showcases independent businesses operating across the UK in the countdown to Small Business Saturday on 5 December.
The Scottish businesses selected are Eat, Sleep, Ride in the Scottish Borders; Ooshky; Wild Cairns in East Lothian; Zoe Davidson Jewellery in Orkney; and GiftRound in Bridge of Allan.
Eat, Sleep, Ride is an off-grid equine sanctuary and social enterprise that works with rescued horses to help people develop confidence, connections and skills.
Ooshky was founded by designer Scott Deas and produces Scottish whisky water jugs designed to enhance the whisky-drinking experience through their appearance and tactile design.
Wild Cairns, created by Gus McLeod and Scott Smith, runs outdoor adventure experiences at Whitekirk Hill in East Lothian. Its activities include assault courses, axe throwing, Mini Highland Games and an airsoft range.
Based in Stromness, Zoe Davidson Jewellery creates sculptural pieces inspired by the landscape and details of Orkney, combining traditional craftsmanship with narrative-led design.
GiftRound, based in Bridge of Allan, provides a digital platform designed to simplify the process of collecting money and organising group gifts.
The selected businesses will be featured during the official countdown to Small Business Saturday, which encourages consumers to support independent firms in their communities.
As part of the initiative, two eligible businesses from the UK-wide list will each receive a £10,000 grant funded by American Express. The funding can be used for purposes including new equipment, marketing and improvements to the customer experience.
Michelle Ovens CBE, director of Small Business Saturday UK, said: “Small businesses have always been, and will continue to be, among the nation’s favourite businesses.
“Whether on our high streets, online or embedded in local communities, they play a vital role in the places we live and in the strength of our economy.”
Scott Deas, director and creator of Ooshky, said the recognition would help raise the profile of independent businesses operating primarily online.
He said: “Being recognised for my work starting Ooshky as a solo creator and founder is such a boost and will help me continue to grow the business.
“There have been a lot of customers putting faith in me and buying my product or selling it in their own shops, and so being able to share it with even more whisky lovers is fantastic.”
Scott Smith, co-founder of Wild Cairns, said: “Gus and I started Wild Cairns to get more kids and adults outdoors, active and having fun, so to have what we’ve built recognised nationally means a huge amount to us and our whole team.
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“Small businesses work incredibly hard, and we’ve seen first-hand the difference we can make when we support each other.”
Small Business Saturday was founded by American Express in the US in 2010, with the company remaining the principal supporter of the UK campaign.
Further information is available from the Small Business Saturday UK website.
