Thriving Angus enterprise honoured by Helping it Happen Awards

Scottish Land & Estates has announced the finalists for their Helping it Happen Awards, supported by headline sponsor NatureScot.

The awards scheme focuses on estates, farms, rural businesses and individuals enabling success in rural communities.

Arbikie Highland Estate near Montrose has been nominated for the Innovation in Farming Award.

Owners of Arbikie, the Stirling family, have been farming for over 400 years, and since the three brothers who currently run it, Iain, David and John, added the distillery to their operation, they have made it their ambition to develop a ‘field to bottle’ model of growing, harvesting and distilling everything on-site.

The estate is leading the way in the decarbonisation of the drinks sector with their game-changing pea-based gin Nàdar, setting the tone for a sustainable supply chain for other distillers to follow.

Other Helping It Happen awards will be presented for outstanding contribution to rural Scotland, contribution to the environment, tackling climate change, conservation, education, communities, rural business, tourism and property.

Commenting on this year’s awards, Scottish Land & Estates’ Chief Executive, Sarah-Jane Laing, said: “We are delighted to receive a record-breaking number of nominations for this year’s awards and these stories of success from all over Scotland are inspirational.

"A number of categories have been being hotly contested and we’re looking forward to the opportunity to celebrate with our finalists and winners at the awards ceremony in October.”

Claudia Rowse, NatureScot’s Deputy Director of Green Economy, and a judge on the Helping it Happen panel, said:

“It has been a privilege to review and a fantastic range of applications, and this made it so difficult to choose winners.

"So many nominees are showcasing how to address the nature and climate crises alongside running profitable businesses that are forward looking and resilient.”

The Helping it Happen Awards ceremony will be held on 5 October at The Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh.