STIRLING BUSINESSES REWARDED WITH NEW AWARDS CEREMONY

 The Go Forth Stirling team – Ambassador Josie Brown, Digital Communication and Community Engagement Officer Jitka Fleglova ,Project Director Danielle McRorie-Smith & Ambassador Gail Lamb

Stirling’s independent businesses are set to be recognised with a series of new awards launched by the city’s BID – Go Forth Stirling. 

The Independent Stirling Business Awards 2023 will reward the innovative business owners behind the success of Stirling’s flourishing independent scene. 

Nominations are open now via www.independentstirling.co.uk/awards with the range of categories including retail, hospitality, hair & beauty, visitor attractions and professional services.

And the awards will be presented during a glitzy ceremony held at the city’s historic Golden Lion Hotel on Thursday February 23, 2023. 

The business awards, which will become an annual event, are Go Forth’s latest initiative to highlight and showcase the city’s diverse range of independent traders. 

Go Forth Stirling Project Director Danielle McRorie-Smith said: “We’re thrilled to launch a new awards scheme which gives us the opportunity to celebrate Stirling’s wealth of independent business owners.

We’re lucky to have such a variety of unique shops, bars, restaurants, hairdressers, attractions and other independent businesses on our doorstep and we want to highlight what a fantastic asset they are to the city. We’re proud of the spirit and individuality of our local entrepreneurs who demonstrate exactly what sets Stirling apart from other cities.” 

He added: “We hope the public will get involved by checking out our Awards page on the Independent Stirling website and voting for their favourite city centre restaurant, café, pub, charity, fashion retailer and so on.” 

There are a total of ten categories for nominations including Café of The Year, Visitor Attraction of the Year, Hair & Beauty Business of the Year, Charity of the Year and a special award for Outstanding Contribution to the City. 

Nominees must be independent businesses which are based within the city centre BID zone or voluntary levy payers. 

Once all the nominations are in, local people and business owners will have the opportunity to vote for category winners from a shortlist of finalists.  Go Forth Stirling are also seeking sponsors for the awards including an overall main sponsor and sponsors for each award category. 

Ms McRorie-Smith said: “We’re looking for sponsors who are keen to demonstrate their commitment to Stirling’s business community by backing the awards.

In return, we can offer a fantastic opportunity to position your brand alongside a new, high profile Stirling event.”

The Independent Stirling Business Awards follow the launch of a bespoke website, Independent Stirling, which was set up by Go Forth to promote independent traders and encourage people to champion them and shop local.

It features a business directory, blogs, videos, photos and profile articles highlighting the stories and personalities behind many of the city’s unique independent outlets.

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.