We are delighted to announce the Winners of the 2025 Helping it Happen Awards!
Conservation Award
sponsored by: 
This award highlights best practice in conservation work across Scotland, where land managers and rural businesses are protecting some of Scotland’s most iconic species and habitats for future generations to enjoy.
This year's winner:
Bob Kindness supported by the River Carron Conservation Association
Education Award
sponsored by: 
The role of education in raising awareness of land management practices and all aspects of rural life is of critical importance. This award recognises those who are supporting and creating opportunities for future generations to gain key rural skills, and for those enhancing the opportunities for learning in Scotland’s rural communities.
This year's winner:
Enhancing Our Environment through Land Management Award
sponsored by: 
Scotland’s world-beating rural landscapes and natural heritage have long been a major draw for its own people and visitors alike. Not only are these iconic landscapes valued in their own right, they also play a vital role in our fight against climate change through activities such as tree planting and peatland restoration. This award recognises the fantastic projects, both large and small, being carried out across Scotland to support these goals.
This year's winner:
Good News Award
sponsored by: 
This is for a journalist/content creator that has produced an original piece of work that has focused on and promoted a good news story about rural Scotland. This could be anyone from a single content creator to a full-blown media company and covers material generated for broadcast (radio or tv), or for publication in print or online, including newspapers, magazines, social media, video and podcast. The work must have been published or broadcast for the first time in the 12 months prior to the closing date for nomination.
This year's winner:
Innovation in Farming Award
sponsored by: 
The agricultural sector in Scotland is changing, and innovation will be vital for businesses to succeed in the future. This award recognises those who are doing things differently, no matter what size or scale of farming is being carried out, and whether that be in diversification or the introduction of new or exciting farming techniques.
This year's winner:
Iver Salvesen Award for Combatting Climate Change
sponsored by: 
The Iver Salvesen Award for Combatting Climate Change is for businesses which are finding success, either while or by implementing processes or measures which contribute towards efficient and sustainable goals. This award is given in the memory of Ecological entrepreneur Iver Salvesen who passed away in 2016.
This year's winner:
Rural Business Award
Sponsored by: 
This award recognises the innovative, diverse and even quirky business opportunities being grasped by a range of estates and land-based businesses across rural Scotland. A diverse category, this award aims to ensure that any rural business which is making a contribution to the local or national rural economy has a chance to be recognised.
This year's winner:
Rural Property Award
sponsored by: 
The aim of this award is to highlight those who are providing or contributing towards the creation of a sustainable built environment supporting development, growth, and community in rural Scotland. This category includes not only those responsible for the building of quality rented housing that positively impacts local communities, but also includes those showing outstanding design and architecture, whether by creating new buildings in the style of older surrounding properties, through the adaptation and reuse of existing buildings for a wide variety of purposes or by creating something modern, unique and eye catching. To be considered as part of this category, construction on the project must already be finished and have been completed in the last 18 months. Applications with only concept designs will not be accepted. The buildings can serve any purpose from residential to commercial or community interest.
This year's winner:
Rural Rising Star Award
Sponsored by: 
The Rural Rising Star Award is designed with a variety of different types of nominations in mind. Whether a young person, fresh from high school, college or university who has their sights set on a rural-based career; an individual who has swapped careers and is totally new to the industry; or someone familiar with the countryside who has managed to step out from the shadows to make a name for themselves, this award is designed to shine a light on those who have shown growth, determination, and who we think are the ones to watch in the rural sector in the coming years! To be considered as part of this category, you/your nominated individual must be 35 years old or under.
This year's winner:
[Pictured: Clare Sturla, Regional Manager (South East), collecting the Award on Sammi Kinghorn's behalf].
Tourism & Visitor Management Award
sponsored by: 
This award is for those businesses and estates with a focus on tourism and visitor management. We want to celebrate those delivering first class tourism and recreation across rural Scotland.
This year's winner:
Working with Communities Award
sponsored by: 
This award is for outstanding community projects. Whether through voluntary work, participating in local events or contributing to local enterprise, this award aims to highlight those doing all they can to make their local communities a great place to live.
This year's winner:
Arrochar Community Hydro Society
The Award for Outstanding Contribution to Rural Scotland
This years recipient was Alistair Carmichael MP, who has represented Orkney & Shetland for 24 years. Born into a hill farming family on Islay, he has been a tireless advocate for rural and island communities throughout his political career. A former Secretary of State for Scotland, he now chairs the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, where he has championed fairer treatment for food producers, greater public procurement of local produce, and robust scrutiny of government policy affecting rural Scotland.
[Pictured: Cameron Gillies, Head of External Affairs, collecting the Award on Alistair Carmichael's behalf].
Lifetime Achievement Award
This year SLE added an new special award, the Lifetime Achievement Award, which was awarded posthumously to Alastair Salvesen CBE, who passed away in December 2024. For more than 60 years, Alastair was a leading figure in Scottish life – a businessman, philanthropist, landowner and great supporter of the arts and rural communities. An active member of Scottish Land & Estates for over 30 years, his contribution to rural Scotland was profound. The award was presented to his wife Elizabeth, honouring his remarkable legacy.
Heart Awards
The year we also introduced the Heart Awards to celebrate projects that captured the judges’ imagination for their outstanding community spirit and creativity. The recipients were Aberdeenshire Highland Beef and Megginch Castle Orchard.
