Voting is now open for the Stirling Business Awards, which aim to celebrate the best businesses in Stirling. The nominations process for the 2025 awards received over 2,000 submissions, leading to the selection of twelve businesses for each award category. There are 11 award categories, including Cafe of the Year, New Business of the Year, and Outstanding Contribution to the City. To vote for your favourite businesses, you can visit www.independentstirling.co.uk/awards.
The Stirling Business Awards are organised by Go Forth Stirling, the city’s Business Improvement District (BID), to acknowledge and reward independent business owners. Once the voting period ends next month, a shortlist of three businesses per category will be announced, and the winners will be revealed during a ceremony at Stirling’s Albert Halls on Thursday, March 6, 2025.
Danielle McRorie-Smith, the Project Director of Go Forth Stirling, expressed excitement about the response to the awards and the opportunity to recognise Stirling’s hardworking business owners. A diverse range of businesses, charities, and organisations were nominated, with a total of 2,207 submissions received in the first round of voting.
The awards cover various categories such as Visitor Attraction of the Year, Restaurant of the Year, Pub/Bar/Club of the Year, Retailer of the Year, Cafe/Coffee Shop of The Year, Hair & Beauty Business of the Year, Charity of the Year, New Business of the Year, Business Support Services, Service-led Business, and the special Outstanding Contribution to the City award.
The longlist of businesses nominated for each category is available on the Independent Stirling website. Voting for the awards will close on December 20, with the shortlist set to be announced in mid-January. The Go Forth team is also seeking award sponsors from the city’s business community to support the event.
The Stirling Business Awards are part of Go Forth’s efforts to highlight and showcase the diverse range of independent traders in Stirling. The BID represents over 600 business owners and aims to increase visitors to the city while creating initiatives to enhance its appeal to businesses and shoppers. For more information, visit www.goforthstirling.co.uk.
In conclusion, the Stirling Business Awards provide a valuable platform to recognise and celebrate the achievements of Stirling’s independent businesses. By engaging the community in the voting process, the awards help shine a spotlight on the city’s unique business landscape and encourage support for local enterprises. These initiatives not only boost the visibility of Stirling’s business community but also contribute to its growth and success in the long run.