New category introduced to rural business awards to reflect Covid battle

People across rural Scotland who have helped their business and surrounding communities flourish are being urged to enter the 2021 Helping It Happen Awards.

Organised by rural business organisation Scottish Land & Estates, the annual Helping it Happen Awards, which are free to enter, will showcase the work done in 2020/21 by businesses, farms and estates to help rural Scotland thrive against the background of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Helping it Happen Awards will once again be sponsored by GLM and this year there is a new business resilience award category which is open to those who have, despite the pandemic, seen their business flourish by adapting, being innovative and working hard.

Scottish Land & Estates chief executive Sarah-Jane Laing said: “This year has been difficult for us all. Our world leading tourism and hospitality sector has lay dormant. Across the rural sector businesses, land managers and community groups have done everything in their power to keep their staff in jobs and their work going in trying times.

“That is why this year we think it is more important than ever to celebrate the talent, innovation, and passion of rural Scotland. To recognise the efforts made in the most difficult of circumstances by our members and others to protect communities, jobs and nature in rural Scotland, through the Helping it Happen awards.

“There is no shortage of achievements to celebrate from Scotland’s rural businesses. We urge people from Shetland to the Borders to submit their entries for this year’s awards. You can nominate yourself or others.

“The quality of entries we receive to the Helping it Happen Awards is always exceptional, and we are excited to see this year’s crop of nominations.”

The 2021 Helping it Happen Awards categories are:

Business Resilience Award

Conservation Award, sponsored by Anderson Strathern

Education Award, sponsored by Bell Ingram

Enhancing our Environment through Land Management Award, sponsored by NatureScot

Innovation in Farming Award, sponsored by Douglas Home & Co

Iver Salvesen Award for Combatting Climate Change

Rural Business Award, sponsored by Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP

Rural Housing Award, sponsored by VELUX

Tourism & Visitor Management Award, sponsored by GLM

Working with Communities Award, sponsored by The MacRobert Trust

The awards close to entries on August 4 and winners will be announced at a live virtual ceremony on October 27 2021.

To view last years’ winning entries or make a nomination please visit www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk/helping-it-happen.

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