SCA Awards 2010

Launched at Royal Highlands Show! 

The Scottish Countryside Alliance Awards were launched at this year's Royal Highland Show, Ingliston, and they prove how keen we are to have the attributes of rural Scotland recognised.

We are giving individuals and businesses working in Scotland's countryside the opportunity to prove they are the best in the UK. Their contributions to the economy, raising standards, and to their communities, will be rewarded by the SCA Awards which have a number of categories.

The popular annual awards are in their third year and the winners are announced at the Scottish Parliament, before going on to represent Scotland on a UK level. There they will be up against individuals and businesses that have been deemed the best in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with the eventual UK winners named at a ceremony in the House of Commons, in January 2011.

Nominations are made by the public and a select panel of judges. The focus is on recognising contributions to development of local food, retailing, enterprise and traditional business operations. There is also a broader Rural Hero category, for those making unique personal contributions to the quality of countryside life, and a Bio-diversity Through Country Sports award, celebrating the United Nations' International Year of Bio-diversity.

Ross Montague, Director of the SCA, said: "The SCA Awards have become immensely popular and we are launching them earlier this year to cope with demand. We are excited to be doing so at the Royal Highland Show which is an excellent showcase for the best of Scotland's countryside.

"We are looking for the best that rural Scotland has to offer, especially as the winners will be representing the nation on a UK level. The SCA is on the country's side in more ways than one, and these awards underline our commitment to highlighting the successes of Scottish rural businesses and communities."

For the past two years the Scottish winner of the Best Rural Enterprise has gone on to claim the UK version as well. The current holders are Machars Movies, the most southerly cinema in Scotland, situated on the isolated Isle of Whithorn in Dumfries.

Mike Marshall, who is the Chair for Machars Movies which beat other nominations from all over the UK, said: “It was engrossing seeing the immense range of impressive entries for the awards. These really were the best companies and organisations rural UK has to offer. We were absolutely elated at winning the award which is a tribute to the persistence and endurance of the Machars community in making this project work. It is their support which is so important to its success.

"Being part of the SCA Awards was a wonderful experience for us, and we were grateful to be nominated. We thoroughly recommend that people in rural communities get nominating now."

The categories are:

Local Food Award –Those promoting the best of local produce, supporting our producers and paving the way to a bright future for local produce are honoured here.

Village Shop/ Post Office Award – The personalities behind the counter form the heart of the category. We want to hear about the characters who serve their community day in, day out and never ask for praise.

Enterprise Award – New businesses, expanded and diversified businesses, complete one-offs – we want to hear about the most enterprising outfits in the countryside.

Traditional Business Award – Keeping traditional skills alive in a thoroughly modern setting, anyone maintaining or enhancing a long-practised rural skill is eligible here.

Rural Hero Award – A wide open category to spark the imagination. Lollipop ladies, the local bobby, a river keeper, a teacher, the game dealer, or a local journalist are just a few examples of who might be nominated.

Bio-diversity Through Country Sports - Recognises the work of individuals or businesses that further bio-diversity as part of their land management for country sports.

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The 2009 winners were:

Rural Hero The Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland

Best Local Food The Blackface Meat Company, Dumfries

Best Village Shop/Post Office Glenbarr Stores, Tarbert

Best Traditional Business Amayzing Saddlery, Renfrewshire