The shortlist for Stirling’s inaugural Business Awards has been announced as voting begins to select the winners of the prestigious honours.
Twelve city businesses have been selected for each awards category following a nominations process which attracted nearly 1200 votes. There are ten awards categories – including Restaurant of the Year, Charity of the Year and Unique Retailer of the Year – and voting is open now to pick the winners via www.independentstirling.co.uk/awards
A final shortlist of three businesses per category will be chosen once voting closes with the winners announced during a ceremony at Stirling’s Golden Lion Hotel headlined by Celtic rock band Red Hot Chilli Pipers in February.
The Stirling Business Awards 2023 are run by Go Forth Stirling, the city’s Business Improvement District (BID), to recognise and reward independent business owners. Go Forth Stirling Project Director Danielle McRorie-Smith said: “We’re delighted with the response to our business awards which celebrate Stirling’s fantastic independent business owners and the city’s unique and flourishing independent scene. We received 1,173 votes during the nominations process with a wide range of businesses highlighted and the top 12 in each category going forward to the initial shortlist.
We hope people will get involved again by voting for the shops, pubs, restaurants, hair & beauty salon, visitor attractions and other independent businesses who are listed in each award category. We’re so proud of the individuality of the entrepreneurs we have here in Stirling city centre and look forward to giving them the recognition they deserve at the Stirling Business Awards ceremony in February.”
The awards categories include Visitor Attraction of the Year with Stirling Castle, Stirling Distillery, the Tolbooth, Made in Stirling and Game of Throwing among the 12 initial finalists.
Meanwhile, those shortlisted for the Outstanding Contribution to the City Award include Creative Stirling, Stirling Photography Festival, Stirling Street Pastors, Bloody Scotland and Forth Environment Link. Among the organisations nominated for Charity of the Year are Volunteer Scotland, Transition Stirling, Action in Mind Stirling and Forth Valley Welcome. Further award categories feature Professional Services Business of the Year, Bar/Pub of the Year, Retailer of the Year, Café of the Year and Hair & Beauty Business of the Year.
Go Forth Stirling are also seeking sponsors for the awards from the city’s business community and details about sponsorship packages can be found here – www.goforthstirling.co.uk/business-awards
The Stirling Business Awards will be presented during a glitzy ceremony, hosted by Central FM, at the Golden Lion Hotel on Thursday, February 23, 2023.
