The Glasgow Business Awards unveils 2026 shortlist as public vote for Glasgow's Favourite Business opens

Glasgow Chamber of Commerce has today unveiled the shortlist for the 28th Glasgow Business Awards, celebrating the organisations and individuals driving innovation, growth and positive impact across the city.

Sponsored by Virgin Money, the awards recognise outstanding achievement from the past 12 months, with this year’s competitive categories spanning innovation, digital technology, communications, sustainability, community wealth building and workplace culture.

Winners will be announced at a black-tie ceremony at the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central on Thursday 1 October 2026, with The Herald returning as media partner alongside the awards’ category sponsors.

Glasgow’s Favourite Business, sponsored by Glasgow Times, is decided entirely by public vote. Voting opens today, with six well-known Glasgow businesses competing for the title: Citizens Theatre, Paesano Pizza, Pure Roasters, Scottish Design Exchange, Tennent’s and Trespass. VOTE NOW!

The ceremony will conclude with the presentation of two of the evening’s highest honours: the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising an individual whose leadership and contribution have made a lasting impact on Glasgow’s economy and business community, and the Glasgow Business Award for Most Outstanding Business, the prestigious grand prix title selected from among the category winners. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented in 2025 to Professor Sir Jim McDonald GBE and the Most Outstanding Business was awarded to EGG Lighting.

Richard Muir, Deputy Chief Executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said: “This year’s shortlist reflects the depth and ambition of Glasgow’s business community, from established employers to founders building something new. Each of these organisations is investing in its people, strengthening the communities around it and contributing to the wider Glasgow economy.

“Glasgow’s Favourite Business is the one award decided entirely by the public, and I would encourage people across the city to vote for the businesses they value most. We look forward to recognising every one of them when the winners are announced on 1 October.”

Glasgow Chamber of Commerce hosts The Glasgow Business Awards, now in their 28th year.

To follow the shortlist and the countdown to 1 October, visit www.glasgowbusinessawards.com or search Glasgow Chamber of Commerce across social media. 

The full Glasgow Business Awards 2026 shortlist:

The Glasgow Business Award for Best Performing Large Business

Sponsored by Virgin Money

• Allied Vehicles Limited
• George Leslie
• Matthew Algie
• Peel Ports Clydeport
• Silverburn

The Glasgow Business Award for Best Performing Small-Medium Business

Sponsored by Beam Digital and Design

• Minerva Innovation Group
• Perceptive Communicators
• SOLIS Group
• Strachan and Kemp Facilities Services
• Synlata
• The Solutions on Demand Group Ltd

The Glasgow Business Award for Best Use of Digital Technology

Sponsored by Space Solutions

• Burns Gym
• Candid AI
• Green Fulfilment Ltd
• Pest Solutions
• Select Group
• You are my cup of tea Ltd

The Glasgow Business Award for Community Wealth Building

Sponsored by Glasgow City Council

• Glasgow Clyde College
• Govanhill Baths Community Trust
• Homes for Good
• Kinder Handl Community Enterprise CIC
• Mott MacDonald
• University of Glasgow - Glasgow Riverside Innovation District (GRID) Civic Grant Fund

The Glasgow Business Award for Entrepreneur of the Year

Sponsored by Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP

• Brian Williamson, Synlata
• Cain Fleming, Green Fulfilment
• Emma Ross, Ross Commercial Finance
• Jamie Hall, Arctic Improvements Ltd
• Susan Aktemel, Homes for Good
• Tony Quinn, SilverCloud

The Glasgow Business Award for Excellence in Communications

Sponsored by The Herald

• Circulus
• Clyde Gateway
• Jamieson Law
• Perceptive Communicators and Cruden Homes
• The Social Hub, Glasgow
• Wheatley

The Glasgow Business Award for Fair and Healthy Workplace

Sponsored by NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde and Healthy Working Lives

• Freeths Scotland
• Kibble
• Right There
• Silverburn
• SPFL Trust

The Glasgow Business Award for Family Business of the Year

Sponsored by ATG Entertainment

• Adaptocare Ltd
• Little’s Chauffeur Drive
• Lochlie Construction Group
• Strachan and Kemp Facilities Services
• The Address Glasgow

The Glasgow Business Award for Green Champion

Sponsored by ScottishPower

• Dear Green
• Hillfoot & Paws
• Hope in Place CIC
• Kinder Handl Community Enterprise CIC
• Klearwayjunk
• With Intent Partners Ltd

The Glasgow Business Award for Innovation in Business

• Candid AI
• Clyde Gateway
• Forumm
• LotusDX
• Mother Technologies
• The Solutions on Demand Group Ltd

The Glasgow Business Award for Inspiring Future Talent

Sponsored by KWC Global

• Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre
• Kibble
• Nine Twenty Recruitment
• Pest Solutions
• Resilience Through Creativity with Comedy & Confidence
• Stratum Masonry

The Glasgow Business Award for Net Zero Achievement

Sponsored by Glasgow City Council

• Boxfish
• Circulus
• King’s and Theatre Royal, Glasgow
• Harley Haddow Limited
• Peel Ports Clydeport
• Student Loans Company

The Glasgow Business Award for Sustainable Development

Sponsored by Scottish Water

• Austin-Smith:Lord
• Dear Green
• George Leslie
• Glasgow Clyde College
• McLays Foods
• Matthew Algie

The Glasgow Business Award for Young Business Person of the Year

Sponsored by City of Glasgow College

• Adam Pearce, Minerva Innovation Group
• Javier Gutierrez Abril, Nahualli Group Limited
• Liam Petrie, The LSP Compliance Group
• Pranav Sharman, Allied Vehicles
• Pranav Murali, You are my cup of tea Ltd
• Reece Devlin, Land Development Network

The Glasgow Business Award for Glasgow's Favourite Business

Sponsored by Glasgow Times

• Citizens Theatre
• Paesano Pizza
• Pure Roasters
• Scottish Design Exchange
• Tennent’s
• Trespass

The Glasgow Business Award for Most Outstanding Business

• To be announced at the event

The Glasgow Business Award for Lifetime Achievement

Sponsored by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce

• To be announced at the event