Time to Nominate Outstanding Companies for the 2026 Stirling Business Awards
The public has just two weeks left to nominate outstanding independent retailers for Go Forth Stirling BID’s annual Business Awards.
Article Source: Go Forth Stirling
Last Updated: 5 November 2025 12:27
There are two weeks left to nominate Stirling’s outstanding independent and national retailers for a variety of honours at the city’s 2026 Business Awards.
Nominations are underway for the annual awards, organised by Go Forth Stirling BID (Business Improvement District), and will close on Friday November 14.
There are a total of 14 categories for the 2026 awards which also feature an inspirational new honour - Outstanding Woman in Business.
Once nominations close, the BID will announce a longlist, in late November, when the public have the chance to vote for their favourite business in each category.
A shortlist of the top three businesses for each award will be revealed in January, when - in a change to the usual format - there will be a further round of voting to choose which businesses should be named the winner of each category.
The winners will be announced during the week beginning Monday March 2 with trophies awarded during individual presentations at their premises instead of an awards ceremony.
Go Forth Stirling Project Director Danielle McRorie-Smith said: “We’ve decided to run the awards slightly differently this year and are planning a week-long celebration instead of the usual awards night.
“We recognise the cost to small businesses which the awards ceremony incurs and know how tight budgets are for all of us in the business community just now.
“However, we are still keen to celebrate our businesses and the contribution they make to Stirling and look forward to showcasing the achievements of the finalists and winners in early March next year.
“We also plan to host a full awards ceremony once again for the 2027 Stirling Business Awards.”
Almost 500 people have already put forward a range of local businesses for the 14 awards categories via a dedicated Stirling Business Awards webpage - www.independentstirling.co.uk/awards
The categories include Café/Coffee Shop of the Year; Visitor Attraction of the Year; Restaurant of the Year; Hair & Beauty Business of the Year and Pub of the Year.
There is also the New Business of the Year Award – recognising businesses which began trading in 2025 - and Service-led Business of the Year covering healthcare firms, graphic designers, solicitors, tailors, estate agents and more.
The Charity of the Year Award is also returning for nominations and for the first time there will be an award for Charity Shop of the Year.
The Retailer of the Year Award has been expanded to cover Independent Retailer of the Year and National Retailer of the Year to reflect the high calibre of national stores who invest in Stirling in addition to the city’s wide range of unique independent stores.
Meanwhile, further new categories for 2026 are Accommodation of the Year and Most Attractive Shop Front.
Nominees should be businesses based within the city centre BID zone except for Outstanding Woman in Business and Charity of the Year.
Nominations close at 5pm on Friday November 14 with voting to narrow down an initial longlist of businesses taking place from Friday November 28 until Friday January 9.
This will be followed by another round of voting, from Monday January 12 until Friday February 13, to pick the final winner in each category from a shortlist of three.
The winners will be announced from Monday March 2 onwards with films and photographs to mark their achievements featuring on Go Forth’s social media pages.
Meanwhile, the winner of the Outstanding Woman in Business award will be revealed on International Women’s Day – Sunday March 8.
Ms McRorie-Smith said: “We’ve already had a great response to our call for nominations and there’s still time to get involved and nominate your favourite business in each awards category.
“The Stirling Business Awards are an annual opportunity to highlight the wide range of retailers, hotels, attractions, hospitality venues, beauty salons and other businesses based in Stirling and we look forward to seeing who is nominated this year.”
She added: “To mark the fourth year of the Awards, we’ve added several new categories and will also be celebrating the achievements of some of Stirling’s most inspirational women.
“We’ve also tweaked the voting format to include the chance to vote for the winner of each category which should make the voting process more exciting!”
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
Image: Erol’s Tailor Shop was named Service-led Business of the Year at the Stirling Business Awards 2025. Owner Erol Deniz is pictured with his Award.
Sponsored Links
Latest Stirling News
National Wallace Monument wins Frankenstein approval from renowned filmmaker Guillermo del Toro
Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro made a personal visit to The National Wallace Monument before deciding to cast the iconic Stirling landmark in his new movie ‘Frankenstein’.
READ MORE
Time to Nominate Outstanding Companies for the 2026 Stirling Business Awards
The public has just two weeks left to nominate outstanding independent retailers for Go Forth Stirling BID’s annual Business Awards.
READ MORE
Public vote opens for Scottish Jazz Awards 2025 as scene flourishes
A stellar lineup of nominees has been announced for the Scottish Jazz Awards 2025, showcasing the exceptional talent flourishing across Scotland's vibrant jazz scene.
READ MORE
Heroes call on Scottish rugby fans to vote for the greatest Murrayfield rugby moment
SCOTTISH rugby fans have been called upon to cast their vote for the greatest ever Murrayfield rugby moment as part of celebrations marking the national stadium’s centenary.
READ MORE
The Christmas tradition of the year is back...
Scotland's biggest Christmas drive-in returns: 11 days of Elf, Home Alone & more at Loch Lomond Shores!
READ MORE
First Bus gives Remembrance free travel for all Armed Forces, veterans and cadets
First Bus is offering free travel for all veterans and UK Armed Forces personnel travelling to Remembrance Day activities of Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day.
READ MORE
Scotland Meats Germany
Scotland's favourite beer, Tennent's Lager, has unveiled the world's first ever Square Wurst - a Scottish classic with a German twist - to mark the launch of Tennent's Bavarian Pilsner.
READ MORE
Scottish Ensemble brings warmth to wintry nights with Concerts by Candlelight tour
Concert by Candlelight, Scottish Ensemble's celebrated long-running winter tour, returns for eight awe-inspiring performances in intimate settings around Scotland this December.
READ MORE
Feel the festive cheer at Dobbies Charity Christmas Shopping Night
Dobbies is encouraging customers to come along to their nearest store and to be the first to shop exclusive Black Friday offers at its late-night shopping event, in aid of Alzheimer's Research UK.
READ MORE
Autumn Offers at Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts Collection
Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts Collection have launched new offerings designed to inspire cosy autumn getaways and early festive escapes across Scotland.
READ MORE
The Scottish Excellence Awards are open for entries
Nominations are open for the highly anticipated Scottish Excellence Awards 2026, a celebration of Scotland's hospitality, foodservice and tourism sectors.
READ MORE
Sterling Home brings festive cheer with heartfelt Christmas donation
Leading furniture retailer Sterling Home is lighting up the festive season with a generous donation of Christmas decorations and furniture to children’s hospices and hospitals across Scotland.
READ MORE
Dobbies Garden Centres hosts free to attend winter gardening workshop for kids
Dobbies is hosting a free-to-attend monthly gardening workshop on Sunday 2 November, for children across the country to discover how they can encourage winter birds into the garden.
READ MORE
Have your say on new active travel project for south of Stirling city centre
People are being encouraged to have their say in the second stage of a consultation on four proposed active travel routes for the south of Stirling city centre.
READ MORE
Potential changes to permitted development rights are putting beloved live music venues at risk
The public are urged to take part in the Scottish Government's consultation on planning laws, warning that the changes could put the country's live music venues and pubs at risk.
READ MORE
Art Exhibition and Fashion Sale to Support Strathcarron Hospice
Strathblane artists are set to captivate the community with a charity art exhibition this weekend, aiming to raise funds for Strathcarron Hospice, Denny.
READ MORE
The Saltires 2025 Shortlists Announced
The shortlisted titles for this year’s Saltires, Scotland’s National Book Awards, were announced at Blackwell’s bookshop in Edinburgh.
READ MORE
KT Tunstall wins Modern Scottish Classic Award, plus SAY Award Shortlist reveal
The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award has unveiled the 10 Shortlisted albums now in the running for 2025’s title and £20,000 prize, as well as five Sound of Young Scotland finalists.
READ MORE
No tricks, just treats at Thistles Stirling this Halloween
Thistles, Stirling is set to host a spooky spectacular at the shopping centre this October half term.
READ MORE
Loch Lomond Shores has got the October school holidays sorted
There's loads to see and do – from pet friendly days out to breakfast with dinosaurs, loch tours and much more!
READ MORE
Keela and Mountaineering Scotland launch new campaign
Keela, the Scottish outdoor clothing brand, and Mountaineering Scotland Launch ‘Within You’, an new three-month campaign, inspiring Confidence, Connection, and Adventure in the Outdoors!
READ MORE
Book Week Scotland 2025 programme announced
Scotland's national celebration of books, Book Week Scotland, returns from 17th to 23rd November and tickets are on sale now!
READ MORE
Dobbies donates Christmas trees to local communities
Dobbies Garden Centres is lifting community spirits this season with a Christmas tree donation across the country, in partnership with Needlefresh.
READ MORE
Football legends lace up for 150 mile charity walk inspired by Marcus Stewart, Stephen Darby and the late Doddie Weir
Former Celtic and Scotland football heroes to join ex-player with MND on 150-mile March of The Day to raise funds to help tackle the disease.
READ MORE
First winners announced for GUITARGUITAR Scottish Music Awards
Amy MacDonald, Hue and Cry, Nathan Evans and The Saint PHNX Band, Skipinnish, Shay O'Dowd and James Emmanuel are among the first winners to be announced for the GUITARGUITAR Scottish Music Awards!
READ MORE
Step into stories of Scotland this October with Living History
Scotland’s colourful past bursts to life this October as Historic Environment Scotland (HES) returns with its popular Living History programme for the school holidays.
READ MORE
Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week launches to inspire the nation with Find Your Fit campaign
The Scottish Government's Women and Girls in Sport Week launches this week, celebrating the power of movement and encouraging women and girls of all ages to get active in ways that work for them.
READ MORE
Local sporting heroes back Stirling campaign to get more women and girls active
Some of Stirling’s sporting heroes, including an Olympic champion and a World Championships silver medallist, are supporting a drive to get more local women and girls active.
READ MORE
Unlimited adventures for less than a tank of petrol
With the October school holidays fast approaching, ScotRail has unveiled a new, affordable way for families to make the most of the break!
READ MORE
Seachdain na Gaidhlig (World Gaelic Week) 2026 launches with rallying call to use it, or lose it
Seachdain na Gàidhlig will return in 2026, under the banner Use It or Lose It – and organisers are encouraging people across Scotland and the global diaspora to get behind the rallying cry.
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links