Angus business shortlisted for award finals

The Bothy Experience at Glamis has made it to the final shortlist.

Two rural Angus businesses have been shorlisted for this year’s Helping it Happen awards.

Run by Scottish Land & Estates, the awards feature nine categories, the final four of which have been released this week.

Each category focuses on rural businesses and how these businesses interact with their local communities and with visitors – highlighting how rural areas are underpinned by the business operating within them.

And The Bothy Experience at Glamis has been listed for the Rural Business Award, while Stracathro Estates near Brechin has been recognised for a new family housing development, built as part of an affordable housing scheme.

The awards’ overall focus is on recognising the role estates, farms and rural businesses play in enabling and supporting success in rural conservation, rural enterprise and rural landscapes.

Alan Laidlaw, Royal Highland and Agricultural Society Of Scotland Chief Executive, and a member of the judging panel said: “Judging involved us looking at nine different categories and almost a hundred entries and the entire panel agreed that the standard was superb. We are enormously proud of the way in which rural Scotland is thriving and collaborating for greater success – both in terms of business growth and sustainability.

“Each year, the Helping It Happen Awards reaffirm my belief that the Scottish countryside is in safe hands for this generation and those still to come.”

Claudia Rowse, NatureScot’s deputy director green economy, added: “We are delighted to be sponsoring this year’s Helping it Happen Awards and are impressed by the quantity and quality of applications.

"All the projects vividly demonstrate how the environment and communities can be put at the heart of developing thriving rural businesses. It is heartening to see the positive work to tackle the nature and climate crisis, and how progressive land-based businesses are taking action so that we all benefit from a nature-rich future.”

All award winners, in addition to a small number of special judge awards, will be announced at an awards ceremony which will take place on October 5 at The Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa in Edinburgh.