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
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