Voting gets underway for awards celebrating Stirling’s best businesses

Voting is live for awards celebrating Stirling’s finest businesses, with the longlist for the 2025 Stirling Business Awards recently unveiled. The awards, organised by Go Forth Stirling, aim to recognise and reward independent business owners in the city. With over 2,000 submissions received during the nominations process, twelve businesses have been selected for each of the 11 award categories, including Cafe of the Year, New Business of the Year, and Outstanding Contribution to the City.

To cast their votes, the public can visit www.independentstirling.co.uk/awards. Voting will close on Friday, December 20, and a shortlist of three businesses per category will be announced in mid-January. The winners will be revealed during a ceremony at Stirling’s Albert Halls on Thursday, March 6, 2025.

Project Director of Go Forth Stirling, Danielle McRorie-Smith, expressed delight at the overwhelming response to the awards, highlighting the diverse range of businesses, charities, and organisations nominated. The awards encompass various categories, including Visitor Attraction of the Year, Restaurant of the Year, Pub/Bar/Club of the Year, and Retailer of the Year.

In addition to recognising businesses that began trading in 2024, there are awards for categories like Cafe/Coffee Shop of The Year, Hair & Beauty Business of the Year, Charity of the Year, and Business Support Services. A special honour for Outstanding Contribution to the City will also be awarded, highlighting businesses and organisations that have made a significant impact on the local community.

The awards are part of Go Forth’s efforts to showcase Stirling’s independent traders and attract more visitors to the city. With over 600 business owners represented by Go Forth Stirling BID, the awards play a crucial role in celebrating the vibrant business community in Stirling.

Businesses selected for the longlist in each category can be viewed on the Independent Stirling website. Apart from encouraging public participation in voting, the Go Forth team is also seeking award sponsors from the local business community. Those interested in sponsoring the awards are encouraged to get in touch to support and promote Stirling’s thriving business scene.

In summary, the Stirling Business Awards provide a platform to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of independent businesses in Stirling. Through public voting and recognition of various categories, the awards aim to celebrate the unique contributions of businesses to the city’s economic and cultural landscape.