Stirling’s independent business owners were recognised and rewarded at the city’s first Business Awards.
The winners of ten awards were revealed during a glittering ceremony at the Stirling Business Awards 2023 run by Go Forth Stirling BID.
Teams from a wide range of businesses and charities were presented with trophies during the black-tie event at Stirling’s Golden Lion Hotel headlined by Celtic rock band Red Hot Chilli Pipers.
The winners were chosen by the public with more than 16,000 votes cast for nominated businesses during the run up to the awards.
They included Creative Stirling and its flagship artists hub, Made in Stirling, who were named winners of the Outstanding Contribution to Stirling Award.
Meanwhile, the team at Stirling Carers Centre were awarded Stirling’s Charity of the Year for their work in supporting unpaid carers throughout the Stirling area.
Danielle McRorie-Smith is project director of Go Forth Stirling, the city’s Business Improvement District (BID), which launched the awards to acknowledge and reward the city’s independent business owners and charities.
She said: “It was a wonderful night and great to see so many representatives of Stirling’s diverse independent scene come together to celebrate in style.
“It was exciting to see the winners revealed and we were pleased to host a successful and well-attended evening which showcased Stirling’s entrepreneurial business owners and the city’s unique retailers.
“I’d like to congratulate all the amazing winners and finalists and thank everyone who made the evening such a success.
“We plan to make Stirling Business Awards an annual event so we can continue to highlight and reward the city’s independent businesses.”
Members of Stirling’s business community, charitable sector and local councillors cheered on award winners and enjoyed a rousing performance from the Red Hot Chilli Pipers.
The evening was compered by DJs from Central FM and trophies were handed out in a range of award categories.
They included Stirling’s Restaurant of the Year which was won by Fletcher’s, and the city’s Pub/Bar of the Year which was awarded to the Kilted Kangaroo.
The award for Stirling’s Café/Coffee Shop of the Year went to Vera Artisan Bakery while Stirling’s Hair & Beauty Business of the Year was awarded to FrownDocs Skincare Clinic.
Stirling’s Unique Retailer of the Year category was won by Tinkerbells Emporium with Joanie’s Music taking the title of Stirling’s Retailer of the Year.
Stirling Distillery was named the city’s Visitor Attraction of the Year while Nevermore Tattoo & Piercing Studio won Stirling’s Professional Services Business of the Year.
Award sponsors included the Thistles, Retailers Against Crime, Castle Leisure Group, Stirling Gin, Cowane’s Trust, the University of Stirling Management School, STEP Scotland and chartered surveyors Graham + Sibbald.
A raffle on behalf of Strathcarron Hospice was held during the awards evening which raised £1,580 for the charity.
Claire Kennedy, corporate fundraiser at Strathcarron Hospice, said: “Thanks for a fabulous night and I am delighted that the raffle raised £1,580 for Strathcarron which represents three full days of care for a patient staying in our in-patient unit.”
The full list of award winners is as follows:
Outstanding Contribution to Stirling sponsored by the Cowane’s Trust – Creative Stirling and Made in Stirling.
Charity of the Year sponsored by the Thistles – Stirling Carers Centre.
Restaurant of the Year sponsored by Graham + Sibbald – Fletcher’s.
Professional Services Business of the Year sponsored by the University of Stirling Management School – Nevermore Tattoo.
Café/Coffee Shop of the Year sponsored by STEP Scotland – Vera Artisan Bakery.
Retailer of the Year sponsored by the Fubar/Castle Leisure Group – Joanie’s Music.
Visitor Attraction of the Year sponsored by Retailers Against Crime – Stirling Distillery.
Pub/Bar of the Year presented by Nettl of Stirling – Kilted Kangaroo.
Unique Retailer of the Year presented by Blackburn Communications – Tinkerbells Emporium.
Hair & Beauty Business of the Year presented by 17 Degrees Magazine – FrownDocs.
Go Forth Stirling is the city’s BID representing 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.
