Strathcarron Hospice has been named 'Charity of The Year' in the Go Forth Stirling Business Awards 2026.

The winners of 14 honours have been unveiled and trophies were presented to them by Go Forth Stirling Project Director Danielle McRorie-Smith during visits to their business premises.

The exceptional business owners, charitable organisations and their teams - plus the winner of the Outstanding Woman in Business Award – were chosen by the public during a final selection process which saw nearly 11,000 votes cast.

Among the winners was Strathcarron Hospice which scooped the Charity of the Year Award in the same year the organisation is marking 45 years of care after opening in 1981.

Strathcarron CEO Mags McCarthy said: “We really are overwhelmed with this show of recognition from the people of Stirling and would like to say a huge thank you to those who voted for us to be Charity of the Year in the Stirling Business Awards.

“This is a huge honour and privilege and reflects the regard to which our wonderful community holds us. Everything we do in our community, is for our community, and with our community, to enable people to live and die well.

“To receive this accolade in our 45th anniversary year makes the award even more special and we hope to be here for another 45 providing vital care for palliative and end of life patients and their loved ones."

Danielle from Go Forth with Stirling Strathcarron Shop Manager Kate 

Go Forth visited our Stirling charity shop to present this award where Manager Kate Cudworth was thrilled to receive the trophy on behalf of all those involved with Strathcarron Hospice.

Kate said: "This is absolutely wonderful and makes everything worthwhile. We all enjoy working in the Strathcarron charity shops and are a real team who support each other and work hard for the cause. 

"It's so amazing to win and I'd like to thank everyone who voted for us and who supports us." 

The annual awards, which are in their fourth year, are organised by Go Forth Stirling BID (Business Improvement District).

Ms McRorie-Smith said: “The Stirling Business Awards have once again been well supported by the business community and the public and we were delighted to recognise and reward our entrepreneurial business owners and their teams.

“The Awards were slightly different this year as we decided not to host an evening ceremony, but we really enjoyed going out to the business premises of all the winners and presenting them with their trophies.

“It was wonderful to see the surprise and delight on their faces when we revealed they had won and a couple became quite emotional as they spoke about how much the award meant to them and their colleagues. That was wonderful to hear.”

The full list of award winners is as follows:

Charity of the Year – Strathcarron Hospice

Outstanding Woman in Business  – Khyra Smith of Safebase

Restaurant of the Year – An Darna

Café/Coffee Shop of the Year – Janna’s Bakery

Independent Retailer of the Year – The Scottish Gantry

Retailer of the Year – Marks & Spencer

Visitor Attraction of the Year – Stirling Castle

Pub/Bar of the Year – Molly Malones

Hair & Beauty Business of the Year –  Studio Twenty Two

New Business of the Year – Souperb

Accommodation of the Year – King Street Aparthotel

Service-led Business of the Year – Crafted Dental

Charity Shop of the Year – SOSN

Most Attractive Shop Front – Made in Stirling

 

The Stirling Business Awards showcase the hardworking owners and teams behind Stirling's flourishing business community.

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.

For more information, visit www.goforthstirling.co.uk

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