Longlist Revealed for Stirling Business Awards 2025
The longlist for the 2025 Stirling Business Awards has been revealed as voting begins to select the winners of the annual honours.
Article Source: Go Forth Stirling
Last Updated: 13 November 2024 13:00
Twelve businesses have been selected for each awards category following a nominations process which attracted more than 2000 submissions.
There are eleven award categories – including Cafe of the Year, New Business of the Year and Outstanding Contribution to the City – and voting is now open via www.independentstirling.co.uk/awards
The Stirling Business Awards are run by Go Forth Stirling, the city’s Business Improvement District (BID), to recognise and reward independent business owners.
A shortlist of three businesses per category will be selected once voting closes next month with the winners announced during a ceremony at Stirling’s Albert Halls on Thursday March 6, 2025.
Go Forth Stirling Project Director Danielle McRorie-Smith said: “We’ve had a fantastic response to our third business awards which have become increasingly popular with the public and business community.
We launched them with the aim of recognising Stirling’s hardworking business owners and celebrating the city’s unique independent scene and are proud to continue to do that.
“We saw a diverse range of businesses, charities and other organisations nominated - and a total of 2,207 submissions - during the first round of voting and the most outstanding 12 in each category now feature on our longlist.
“The public can vote online for their favourite shop, pub, café, charity, hair & beauty salon, visitor attraction and other businesses from those listed in each category.
“At the end of the voting process, we’ll collate a shortlist of the top three businesses in each sector to go through to the final. And each of the winners will be revealed at our black-tie awards ceremony in March.”
The awards categories include Visitor Attraction of the Year with Stirling Castle, Escape Stirling, the Church of the Holy Rude, Christmas shop Tinsel & Tartan and Stirling Distillery among the 12 nominees.
Meanwhile, those longlisted for Restaurant of the Year include An Darna, Indian Cottage, Brea, Mint Leaf and The Portcullis.
Among the businesses nominated for Pub/Bar/Club of the Year are Molly Malones, Curly Coo Bar and King Cons while contenders for Retailer of the Year include Europa Music, Archie’s Pet Shop and Ginger Roots.
Further award categories feature Café/Coffee Shop of The Year, Hair & Beauty Business of the Year, Charity of the Year and New Business of the Year recognising businesses which began trading in 2024.
There is also a Business Support Services award for companies offering services such as graphic design and IT consultancy where nominees include Nettl, Computer Division and Codebase.
And a Service-led Business honour which features a variety of healthcare firms, solicitors, tailors and property letting companies.
The final award is the special honour of Outstanding Contribution to the City which was last year won by the team at Stirling Community Enterprise.
Those longlisted for the 2025 award include the Fairytale Trail, Stirling Photography Festival, Bloody Scotland, Bannockburn House Trust and Stirling Aid.
A full list of the businesses selected for the longlist in each category is available via a dedicated awards page on the Independent Stirling website - www.independentstirling.co.uk/awards
Voting for the 2025 awards will close on Friday December 20 with the shortlist announced in mid-January.
The Go Forth team is also seeking award sponsors from the city’s business community - including an overall main sponsor and sponsors for various categories.
Ms McRorie-Smith said: “We like to hear from anyone who is keen to demonstrate their commitment to Stirling and our flourishing business community by backing the awards.
“In return for sponsorship, we can offer a rewarding opportunity to position your brand alongside a high-profile, annual event which celebrates Stirling and all it has to offer.”
The business awards are one of Go Forth’s many initiatives aimed at highlighting and showcasing Stirling’s wide range of independent traders.
Go Forth Stirling BID 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
Image: The Smith Art Gallery & Museum won The Visitor Attraction of the Year award
Sponsored Links
Latest Stirling News
Secret New Tours at Stirling Castle offer behind the scenes access
Secret Stirling Tours – a new bespoke tour of Stirling Castle – launches today (Monday 15 September) giving visitors exclusive access to areas of the site that are normally closed to the public.
READ MORE
Local runner swaps sneakers for shackles in spooky Stirling shopping centre sleepover
A Stirling local is set to spend the night in one of the city’s most unusual, and eerie, locations to raise vital funds for children across the world.
READ MORE
Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition
Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition on the big screen in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling and Inverness from 1st to 19th October 2025.
READ MORE
Cineworld 4DX Rewind returns for 2025
Cineworld is excited to announce the return of 4DX Rewind this September across Cineworld 4DX cinemas nationwide!
READ MORE
Find your next business opportunity at Forth Valley Meet the Real Buyer event
Local businesses and social enterprises across the Forth Valley are being invited to explore supply chain opportunities in a free-to-attend event at Alloa Town Hall.
READ MORE
Final countdown to the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run 2025 is on
Scotland's greatest running event, the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run, will return to Glasgow next month, and there’s still time to secure your place.
READ MORE
Marstons and Tom Shepherd join forces once more to serve up the best ever pub pie
Marston's and Michelin-starred chef Tom Shepherd have teamed up once more to serve up The Best Ever Pub Pie to locals across the country.
READ MORE
Edinburgh Fringe smash hit Oran embarks on first UK tour
Òran, the award-winning sell-out hit of the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe embarks on its first ever UK tour this autumn as company Wonder Fools take their work to a host of venues across Scotland.
READ MORE
Fair Trade Stirling going the distance in cycling fundraiser for Malawi
Fair Trade Stirling is holding a sponsored bike ride to raise money for its long-term partners in the Karonga District of Malawi.
READ MORE
Iconic films to take centre stage at Vue venues in Scotland
Iconic movies celebrating key milestones this year are returning to Vue for a limited run - including Steven Spielberg classic Jaws.
READ MORE
20 expert sessions at The Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show
The Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show will be packed with expert speakers when it returns to the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston on 4th – 5th October 2025.
READ MORE
A Taste of Loch Lomond Book launches with live cooking demo at the Loch Lomond Food & Drink Festival
Love Loch Lomond will officially launch its new publication, A Taste of Loch Lomond – Stories and Flavours from the Bonnie Banks, at the Loch Lomond Food & Drink Festival on Sunday 7th September.
READ MORE
Seriously fun ideas for your work Christmas Party
It might only be September, but the C-word is not too far away, so it's time to start thinking about planning the annual office Christmas shindig before everything gets booked up!
READ MORE
Business Gateway launches its first ever Scottish Start Up Month
Business Gateway, Scotland's national business support service, has launched Scottish Start-Up Month, a nationwide campaign to celebrate Scotland's entrepreneurial spirit.
READ MORE
Go Forth Stirling Launch 2026 Business Awards
Stirling’s outstanding independent and national retailers are set to be recognised and rewarded at the city’s 2026 Business Awards.
READ MORE
Drop in sessions begin on draft Visitor Levy scheme for Stirling
Businesses, visitors and residents are urged to feedback on Stirling’s draft Visitor Levy scheme as drop-in sessions begin.
READ MORE
Fresh new line up for one of the biggest FREE food and drink festivals in Scotland
Vikings, a pie eating competition, new celebrated chef and dog & duck shows set to bring new energy to Loch Lomond Food and Drink Festival this September.
READ MORE
From pouring pints to the red carpet: The Scottish Bar and Pub Awards 2025 crowns its hospitality stars!
The winners of the 2025 Scottish Bar & Pub Awards were unveiled on the 26th of August at a glittering, Oscars-themed ceremony held at the Doubletree by Hilton, Glasgow.
READ MORE
Stirling Photography Festival goes Beyond with exhibitions across Stirlingshire
The Stirling Photography Festival is proud to announce the launch of a series of exhibitions in rural Stirling as part of their 2025 programme.
READ MORE
Stirling marks 30th Anniversary of Braveheart
Braveheart continues to be a huge draw for visitors to Scotland as Stirling prepares to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Oscar-winning epic.
READ MORE
Best Croissant Competition returns for 2025
The Edinburgh Butter Company has announced the return of its ‘Scotland’s Best Croissant’ competition on Monday 13th October.
READ MORE
New Forth Valley Five Campaign Launches to Champion Local Food and Drink
Businesses across Stirling and beyond are being invited to take the ‘Forth Valley Five’ pledge: a bold new initiative designed to celebrate local food and drink and boost community wealth.
READ MORE
Historic Environment Scotland launches Talking About Heritage
People across Scotland invited to take part in national conversation about heritage.
READ MORE
Clans @ The Croft team mountain bike enduro event returns
A multiple Clan skirmish of epic proportions is on the cards again for mountain bike Enduro riders when Clans @ The Croft, the first team event on the UK's Enduro calendar, returns to Creiff.
READ MORE
Tickets now on sale for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo closes the drawbridge on its 75th anniversary Show, as tickets for next year go on sale.
READ MORE
Call for sites and ideas for new Local Development Plan in Stirling
Residents, community groups and other key stakeholders will have the opportunity to shape Stirling’s future as the consultation on the area’s new Local Development Plan enters crucial new phase.
READ MORE
Primark celebrates 50 years in Scotland with a wee nod to loyal Scots in all stores today
Scottish shoppers will hardly believe it when they see it today as Primark finally relents on one of its biggest brand debates after 50 years.
READ MORE
Christmas at Crieff Hydro returns with magical line up of festive activities
Scotland's best loved family resort, Crieff Hydro, has unveiled details of a specially curated programme of events as it prepares to welcome guests over the festive period.
READ MORE
Scots Language Awards 2025 shortlist unveiled
The shortlist for the Scots Language Awards 2025 has been unveiled, with figures from Scottish literature, theatre, education and business all in the running for awards at the annual ceremony.
READ MORE
Innis & Gunn wins double gold at the World Beer Awards 2025
Innis & Gunn has claimed double gold on the global stage, winning best in Scotland for the second year running at the World Beer Awards.
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links