Shortlist for Scottish Highlands and Islands Rural Economy (SHIREs) Awards will share some fantastic stories
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The second Scottish Highlands and Islands Rural Economy (SHIREs) Awards have attracted a bigger and more diverse response than 2019’s inaugural event.
It might have made the process of selecting the shortlist even harder for the judging panel led by Chris Kerr, who leads top legal firm Harper Macleod’s Highlands, Islands and Moray team, but it was a challenges he was happy to accept.
“Collectively we believe we reached the right outcome in each category and have produced a great shortlist,” he said.
“It’s not giving anything away to say that in some categories we found this almost impossible, and needed long discussions to reach a consensus, but to me, and my colleagues on the panel, this was simply testament to the fantastic stories represented by each and every nominee.
“The SHIREs Awards, and the conference preceding it, which I will be co-hosting virtually with Nicky Marr, are almost upon us, and I can’t wait to see the winners, and all those on the shortlists, celebrated on what I’m sure will be a fantastic night.”
The second SHIREs Awards, organised by Harper Macleod in association with Highland News and Media, will be held virtually from 6pm on Thursday, November 18.
The awards event will be preceded by the second SHIREs conference, also to be held online, with guest speakers from the private and public sectors, including Scotland’s rural affairs minister Mairi Gougeon.
To attend the awards, visit www.hnmedia.co.uk/the-shires-conference-awards for further details.
Details about the conference agenda and speakers and how to attend can be found at https://events.harpermacleod.co.uk
The 2022 SHIREs Awards shortlist:
Rural Digitisation Award, sponsored by Openreach: AquaScot; Yellow Cherry; SkillSeeder; Fibre 1.
Rural Natural Capital, sponsored by SSE Renewables: Peter Graham and Associates; McGowan Environmental Engineering Ltd; Cairngorms National Park Authority; Caledonian Climate.
Rural Blue, sponsored by Port of Cromarty Firth: Ocean Kinetics; Scottish Sea Farms; Affric Ltd; European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC).
Rural Creative, sponsored by ScotRail: The Old Mill Inn, Brodie; Flying Scotsman UAS; Findhorn Bay Arts Ltd; Skyeskyns; Mind Trick Copy Writing.
Rural Covid Resilience, sponsored by HIE: AquaScot; M&H Carriers; Salar Smokehouse Ltd; Murray Travel; Fèis Rois Ltd; Annie’s Bakery Ltd; Cairngorm Early Learning and Childcare.
Rural Entrepreneur, sponsored by Business Gateway DigitalBoost: John O’Groats Brewery Ltd; Murray Travel; Salar Smokehouse Ltd; Mind Trick Copy Writing.
Rural Charity, sponsored by Tulloch Homes: TeamHamish; Mikeysline; Highland Hospice; Fèis Rois Ltd; Moray School Bank; The Elsie Normington Foundation.
Rural Community, sponsored by Cairngorms National Park: Loch Ness Hub; R-evolution for Good.
Rural Taste, sponsored by Executive magazine: The Old Mill Inn, Brodie; John O’Groats Brewery Ltd; The Redshank catering company Ltd; Salar Smokehouse Ltd; Isle of Skye Distillers; North Point Distillery; Annie’s Bakery Ltd.
