Scottish Rural Awards 2020 open for entries

Do you know a small or medium-sized business in Scotland that deserves special recognition?

​The Scottish Rural Awards 2020 are now open for entries and nominations in a number of categories including a new category: Best Countryside Digital Innovator. The winner of this category will be crowned for successfully championing digital projects and products across the agricultural, rural and tourism sectors in Scotland. 

​The award categories are:

• Best Scottish Artisan Food Award
• Best Scottish Artisan Drink Award
• Rural Business Diversification Award
• Best Rural Business Start-Up Award
• Best Farming Business Award
• Best Rural Employer Award
• Rural Hospitality Award
• Best Rural Innovation Award
• Best Rural Skills Educator Award
• Most Sustainable Rural Business Award
• Best Rural Tourism Initiative Award
• Rural Hero Award
• Lifetime Achievement Award
• NEW FOR 2020: Best Countryside Digital Innovator Award

These annual awards are organised by Scottish Field Magazine and the Scottish Countryside Alliance.

Richard Bath, editor of Scottish Field, said:

"The Scottish Rural Awards go to the heart of Scottish Field’s commitment to showcase the best that Scotland’s countryside has to offer. That is why it has been an enormous pleasure to be a part of an awards that has grown in stature with every passing year.

"Our involvement with the SRA has also been an educational process: judging the awards each year has revealed the extraordinary levels of innovation and energy of the people who live in rural Scotland. In turn, the awards have given those dynamic custodians of Scotland’s rural economy the public recognition which they so richly deserve."

Jamie Stewart of the Scottish Countryside Alliance said:

"Land-based businesses contribute over £2 billion to the Scottish economy. Despite the multiple challenges they face, they are hugely valuable brand ambassadors for Scotland, and many provide vital support to their local communities. These awards give Scotland a chance to recognise the resilience, innovation and contribution that rurally-based people and businesses make to its success."

Finalists will be announced at the beginning of December 2019, with winners revealed at the Scottish Rural Awards ceremony and gala dinner, which will take place in spring 2020.

The deadline for entries is 4 November 2019.

Find out more and make your nominations on the Scottish Rural Awards website.