Organised by Scottish Land & Estates, the rural business organisation, the annual Helping it Happen Awards, which are free to enter, will showcase the work done in 2020/21 across housing, working with communities and combating climate change to help rural Scotland thrive during a difficult year.

Last year Hudson Hirsel was awarded the Judges’ Special Award in recognition of the conservation style community built on the outskirts of the Hirsel Estates in Coldstream. After ten years, the company provided over 20 affordable homes for the local community without Government support.

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.

Sarah-Jane Laing, Scottish Land & Estates chief executive, said: “This year has been difficult for us all. Our housing sector has faced immense challenges.

“Across the rural sector businesses, housing providers have done everything in their power to provide high quality and secure homes 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:

• Rural Housing Award sponsored by VELUX
• Working with Communities Award sponsored by The MacRobert Trust
• 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
• Tourism & Visitor Management Award sponsored by GLM

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