Galashiels Heartland Awards 2025
Category Criteria
Best Business of the Year – Sponsored by Scottish Borders Council
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Be based in TD1 postal area
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Have been trading in 2024
Best New Business of the Year – Sponsored by Lowland Financial
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Be based in TD1 postal area
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Have started trading in 2024
Best Food & Drink – Sponsored by the Pavillion Cinema
The nominated business must:
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Be based in TD1 postal area
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Have been trading in 2024
–      Be within the food and drink sector which includes, but is not limited to: cafés, restaurants, pubs, bars, food trucks, takeaways, bakeries, delis…
Best Retail & Shopping – Sponsored by Mitchell Glass
The nominated business must:
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Be based in TD1 postal area
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Have been trading in 2024
–      Be within the retail and shopping sector which includes, but is not limited to: clothing stores, grocery stores, gift shops, jewellers, household goods…
Best Beauty, Hair & Care – Sponsored by SPG Innovation & Technologies
The nominated business must:
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Be based in TD1 postal area
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Have been trading in 2024
–      Be within the hair, beauty and care sector which includes, but is not limited to: hairdressers, barbers, beauticians, nail technicians, massage therapists, chiropractors, podiatrists, tanning salons, tattoo artists, piercing professionals…
Best Community & Charity Organisation- Sponsored by the Hayward Sanderson Trust
The nominated business must:
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Be based in TD1 postal area
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Have been trading in 2024
–      Be a community company or group which includes, but is not limited to: charity shops, ‘pay what you can’ businesses, sports clubs, walking groups, community interest companies (CICs), choirs, Scout groups, religious groups…
Best Leisure & Entertainment – Sponsored by Belhaven Brewery
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Be based in TD1 postal area
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Have been trading in 2024
–      Be within the leisure and entertainment sector which includes, but is not limited to: cinemas, play areas, swimming pools, sporting facilities, bingos, libraries, museums, galleries…
Best Service & Repair – Sponsored by Love My Beds
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Be based in TD1 postal area
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Have been trading in 2024
–      Be within the service and repair sector which includes, but is not limited to: tradespeople, mechanics, printers, architects, solicitors, agencies, construction…
Best Health & Fitness – Â Sponsored by Winter Spring Summer & Fall
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Be based in TD1 postal area
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Have been trading in 2024
–      Be within the health & fitness sector which includes, but is not limited to: gyms, class instructors, personal trainers…
Best Sports Club – Sponsored by ClubSport Ettrick and Lauderdale
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Be based in TD1 postal area
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Have been trading in 2024
–Â Â Â Â Â Â Be within the sports sector which includes, but is not limited to: clubs where activity is delivered in real life, clubs where activity is delivered virtually, clubs where delivery is a hybrid approach, clubs for children and young people, amateur adult clubs, semi-professional adult clubs and professional adult clubs
If any organisation receives votes within multiple categories, these will be consolidated into the category with the highest number of votes.
