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Daily Record
4 days ago
- General
- Daily Record
People urged to celebrate high street heroes for 2025 Scotland Loves Local Awards
You can also put your home area forward for national accolades including Town of the Year. People across Lanarkshire are being urged to celebrate their high street heroes. Nominations have opened for the 2025 Scotland Loves Local Awards, celebrating the people and organisations who make communities better places to live, work and visit. And the region's residents are being encouraged to nominate those who they would like to be named as High Street Hero for Central Scotland. People can also put their home area forward for national accolades including Town of the Year. The awards are organised by Scotland's Towns Partnership (STP) as an extension of its wider Scotland Loves Local campaign encouraging people to back enterprises and organisations in their communities. STP chief officer Kimberley Guthrie said: 'Every day, people and organisations go above and beyond to make their communities better and I've been lucky to meet a few of them and see what brilliant work they do. "The impact of that determination to make a difference should never be underestimated. 'The Scotland Loves Local Awards are an opportunity to recognise and reward that success, celebrating collective and individual achievements. They are a fantastic way to say a special thank you.' The awards highlight the innovation and collaboration which will make towns and neighbourhoods stronger and more sustainable. The categories nationally are: Eight High Street Hero Awards will also be presented - one in each of the Scottish Parliament electoral regions - recognising a person or organisation who makes life better in their area. Award nominations can be made at where full category criteria can also be found. There, you can briefly share the details of your nominee and why you would like to see them recognised. The closing date for nominations is 5pm on Wednesday, August 30. Finalists will be announced in September with presentations made to winners in October. A special reception will then take place in Edinburgh in November.
Daily Record
4 days ago
- General
- Daily Record
Show the love for high street heroes in West Lothian by nominating them for award
Jim Allan from Bathgate was last year's winner for the region West Lothian residents are being urged to nominate their high street heroes for this year's Scotland Loves Local Awards. The awards celebrate the people and organisations who make communities better places to live, work and visit. Residents in West Lothian as well as those across Edinburgh, East Lothian, and Midlothian are being encouraged to nominate those they would like to see crowned High Street Hero for the Lothian region. Eco warrior Jim Allan, from Bathgate, an influential force in West Lothian Litter Pickers and its work to clear hundreds of tonnes of rubbish from local streets and spaces was last year's winner. Now in their fifth year, the awards are organised by Scotland's Towns Partnership (STP) as an extension of its wider Scotland Loves Local campaign encouraging people to back enterprises and organisations in their own communities. People can also put their home area forward for national accolades including Town of the Year. STP Chief Officer Kimberley Guthrie said: 'Every day, people and organisations go above and beyond to make their communities better and I've been lucky to meet a few of them and see what brilliant work they do. 'The impact of that determination to make a difference should never be underestimated. 'The Scotland Loves Local Awards are an opportunity to recognise and reward that success, celebrating collective and individual achievements. They are a fantastic way to say a special thank-you.' The awards highlight the innovation and collaboration which will make towns and neighbourhoods stronger and more sustainable. The categories nationally are: ● Town of the Year ● Most Enterprising Community ● Place Leader of the Year Eight High Street Hero Awards will also be presented - one in each of the Scottish Parliament electoral regions - recognising a person or organisation who make life better in their area. The closing date for nominations is Wednesday, August 30 at 5pm. Finalists will be announced in September with presentations made to winners in October and a special reception will take place in Edinburgh in November.
Scotsman
5 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Search launched for Town of the Year as Scotland Love Local Awards return
The search is on to find Scotland's Town of the Year as nominations open for the 2025 Scotland Loves Local Awards. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... And people across the country are being encouraged to shine a spotlight on their community's champions and the work they do to make a difference. As well as crowning Scotland's Town of the Year, the awards will also celebrate High Street Heroes, the nation's Most Enterprising Community, as well as an inspirational Place Leader. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The awards are organised by Scotland's Towns Partnership as an extension of its wider Scotland Loves Local campaign encouraging people to back enterprises and organisations in their communities. TV presenter Sean Batty and STP's Kimberley Guthrie celebrating Oban's 2024 Town of the Year win with community leaders STP Chief Officer Kimberley Guthrie said: 'Every day, people and organisations go above and beyond to make their communities better and I've been lucky to meet a few of them and see what brilliant work they do. The impact of that determination to make a difference should never be underestimated. 'The Scotland Loves Local Awards are an opportunity to recognise and reward that success, celebrating collective and individual achievements. They are a fantastic way to say a special thank-you.' As well as winners receiving trophies and public recognition, all awards finalists will be invited to a special Scotland Loves Local reception in Edinburgh. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The awards highlight the innovation and collaboration which will make towns and neighbourhoods stronger and more sustainable, tackling issues such as the climate emergency and cost of living, while also transforming places to become better, fairer, more attractive and successful. Oban, the 2024 Town of the Year in the Scotland Loves Local Awards Nationally, awards will be presented to: Town of the Year Most Enterprising Community Place Leader of the Year Eight High Street Hero Awards- recognising those who go above and beyond to make communities of all sizes better places in which to live, work and visit - will also be presented. One will be awarded in each of the Scottish Parliament electoral regions of Central Scotland, Glasgow, Highlands and Islands, Lothian, Mid Scotland and Fife, North East Scotland, South Scotland and West Scotland. Last year saw Oban named as Scotland's Town of the Year after judges heard how townsfolk have banded together to 'reinvent' the picturesque Argyllshire community. Popular television presenter Sean Batty helped community leaders celebrate their success. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad High Street Heroes ranged from a life-saving Army veteran, to people who had cleaned up their communities, a Business Improvement District and a life-enhancing community garden. Award nominations can be made at where full category criteria can also be found. There, you can briefly share the details of your nominee and why you would like to see them recognised. The closing date for nominations is 5pm on Wednesday, August 30th 2025. Finalists will be announced in September with presentations made to winners in October. The Edinburgh reception will take place in November. Spearheaded by STP and supported by the Scottish Government, Scotland Loves Local is the movement encouraging people to create a better future for their community by choosing local. This is the fifth year in which the awards have been held.
Glasgow Times
31-05-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Story behind new machine in Glasgow's Buchanan Galleries
The kiosk, a result of a partnership between Buchanan Galleries and Glasgow City Council, allows people to purchase the city's gift card in person for the first time. Located near the Sauchiehall Street entrance, the kiosk is available during regular hours at the Buchanan Galleries. The initiative, part of the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card scheme, is aimed at supporting local businesses. Kathy Murdoch, Centre Director at Buchanan Galleries at the new Glasgow Gift Card kiosk (Image: Supplied) The Glasgow Gift Card is one of the UK's largest local gift cards, accepted by over 1,200 city businesses, including national brands and independent businesses. Since its launch, the card has generated nearly £10 million for the city. Kevin Meechan, chief executive officer of ARRAN Sense of Scotland, said: 'The Glasgow Gift Card scheme will impact us as a local business, allowing our brand to gain additional exposure to customers, particularly among customers who are looking to support independents, and it'll also help us increase foot traffic to our Buchanan Galleries store." Kathy Murdoch, centre director at Buchanan Galleries, said: "We're thrilled to support our city in its 850th year with the introduction of the Glasgow Gift Card, making it easily available to guests at our dedicated kiosk in Buchanan Galleries." Councillor Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: "The Glasgow Gift Card has been a great success since its launch, bringing over £10 million into the local economy and supporting businesses and jobs in the city." The technology for the Glasgow Gift Card is provided by Miconex, which operates more than 100 Scotland Loves Local and Town & City Gift Card programmes across the UK. David O'Neil, chief commercial officer at Miconex, said: "The introduction of the self-service kiosk at Buchanan Galleries during the city's 850th birthday celebrations is a fitting tribute to one of the city's success stories – the Glasgow Gift Card." The Scotland Loves Local Gift Card initiative is backed by Scotland's Towns Partnership (STP) as part of its wider Scotland Loves Local initiative. Nicola Hutchinson, who leads on Scotland Loves Local at STP, said: 'The Scotland Loves Local Glasgow Gift Card is a tremendous success story, boosting the city's economy by delivering real benefits for people and businesses. "Every gift card bought injects cash into Glasgow businesses."
