📣 Registration is now open for Scotland’s Towns Conference 2025 (STC25)! Join up to 450 leaders, practitioners, and community representatives from public, private, and voluntary sectors to explore 'Investment & Innovation: Delivering for Scotland’s Economy.' 📅 27th November 2025 📍 The Technology and Innovation Centre, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow In partnership with Glasgow City Council, celebrating Glasgow’s 850th year! What to expect: - Exhibition & BIDs Pavilion showcasing town centre solutions - Launch and live demo of the new Understanding Scottish Places (USP.scot) data tool - Walking tours highlighting Glasgow’s culture and regeneration - Panels & workshops on regeneration, collaboration, sustainable finance, and more - International insights on placemaking and future-proofing communities Best of all...free to attend! 🔗 Register today: tickettailor.com/events/scot… Questions? Contact [email protected] for assistance. Let’s shape Scotland’s towns and cities together! 🏙️🤝 STC25 Supporters + Partners: @blachereillum @HistEnvScot @KeepBritainTidy @loqiva @micnx @ScotRail @thebankscot @Vicinity @VisitScotland @ZeroWasteScot

🏘️ What makes your town special? For many of us, it’s our heritage - the buildings, traditions, and stories that shape our places and connect our communities. Historic Environment Scotland is inviting people across the country to take part in Talking About Heritage, a National Conversation to help shape how we care for and celebrate heritage in the future. 📋 Share your views by 7 December: 👉 Talking About Heritage Survey 2025: haveyoursay.historicenvironm… 📍 Or join in-person events in: Hawick (21 Oct) Glasgow (23 Oct) Inverness (28 Oct) Ullapool (29 Oct) Shetland (3 Nov) Dundee (11 Nov) 📆 Find out more and register: historicenvironment.scot/adv…

📣 Scotland Town of the Year 2025 Finalists Announced! 🏆 We’re excited to reveal the incredible communities shortlisted for this year’s Scotland Loves Local Awards, celebrating the people, places, and projects driving positive change across the country. The finalists for Town of the Year 2025 are: 📍 Blairgowrie & Rattray (Perth & Kinross) 📍 Newton Stewart (Dumfries & Galloway) 📍 Paisley (Renfrewshire) And in the Most Enterprising Community category, the inspiring nominees are: 💡 Glenuig Community Inn (Highland) 💡 Ochiltree Community Hub (East Ayrshire) 💡 Peterhead Area Community Trust (Aberdeenshire) These awards - organised by Scotland’s Towns Partnership - shine a light on the local innovation, collaboration, and community spirit that’s shaping a stronger, more sustainable Scotland. 🏅 Winners (including Place Leader of the Year and High Street Hero regional awards) will be announced next month! A huge well done to all the shortlisted towns and projects! 👏 👏

📚 The Byres Road Book Festival is back this September! From 26-29 September, Glasgow’s much-loved free festival will once again transform Byres Road and the Lanes into a vibrant hub of stories, culture and creativity. This year’s line-up features poet Michael Pedersen with Belle & Sebastian’s Stuart Murdoch, award-winning children’s author Maisie Chan, bestselling writers, celebrated chefs and inspiring new voices. 👉 Discover the full programme: byresroadbookfestival.com/?u… @Visit_WestEnd

📺 The people behind Scotland's local businesses pour their heart and soul into providing great service to their customers and communities. This chat is a great reminder of just how much what they do means to them. #PeopleMakePlaces #ChooseLocal #ScotlandLovesLocal @ILoveClarkston

📽️ @MadeInStirling has transformed a former department store into a vibrant venue, including shop, gallery and workshop spaces - supporting more than 100 makers. It's an inspiring example of how #PeopleMakePlaces - and why we should all #ChooseLocal. @sparks_stirling @GoForthStirling

📽️ From helping to tackle anti-social behaviour and cleaning graffiti, to welcoming visitors and supporting local businesses, Alan Sayers is a real High Street Hero. #ScotlandLovesLocal ambassador @SeanBattyTV caught up with him to highlight how #PeopleMakePlaces. Watch ⬇️ #ChooseLocal @FalkirkDelivers @Scot_IDs youtube.com/watch?v=SWxzBFFj…

Thousands of free reusable cups have been handed out to coffee lovers in Paisley to encourage customers to #choosereuse as part of a business-boosting partnership between @PaisleyFirst and @ZeroWasteScot, which really shows how #PeopleMakePlaces. ➡️ Read the full story: lovelocal.scot/choose-reuse-… #ScotlandLovesLocal #ChooseLocal

Could you be living next to a High Street Hero? 🦸‍♂️🤔 The countdown is on...the application deadline for the 2025 Scotland Loves Local Awards is just around the corner! We’re looking for local heroes, the people who go above and beyond to: 💙 Champion and support local businesses 💪 Protect and strengthen their community 🏘️ Bring life, pride and opportunity to our towns and neighbourhoods If someone in your community inspires you with their dedication and impact, now’s the time to give them the recognition they deserve. Applications close Wednesday, August 20th - get your nominations in today! Full details and nomination link on our website 👇 lovelocal.scot/awards/

Great to see @ScotGovFM reviewing regeneration projects like Our Union Street in Aberdeen - and meeting volunteers to see first-hand how these initiatives are helping local communities thrive. 👏🌆 @AbdnInspired @scotgov

☀️ Scotland’s summer of sport, festivals and sunshine brought a welcome boost to high streets last month, with footfall up 6% in July compared to June, according to the latest report from MRI Software. From Fringe crowds in Edinburgh to event-goers across Glasgow and beyond, cultural moments are clearly driving people back to local retail. As we head into August, the opportunity is clear: those who use real-time data to stay agile and engaged can keep the momentum going into autumn. Festivals fade...but smart planning lasts. Read the full report here 🔗 scotlandstowns.org/wp-conten…

🎉 Celebrating 5 Years of Scotland Loves Local 💙 Five years ago, the Scotland Loves Local campaign set out to encourage people to Choose Local First. Five years on, that message is stronger than ever - thanks to the businesses and local leaders who brought it to life, like those from the BIDs in Milngavie. Among those leaders, is Billy Milligan, owner of Fullbacks and Charlie’s Loft in Milngavie. Since supporting the campaign launch, Billy’s businesses have evolved alongside changing retail trends, shifting customer habits, and growing demand for experience-led town centres. Now, he’s taking things further, organising the Milngavie Street Party on 29-30 August, bringing music, life and thousands of visitors into the heart of the town. “It’s not just about shopping anymore, towns need reasons for people to gather. Events bring us together.” Huge thanks to Billy and all those who’ve helped shape the SLL story so far. Here’s to five years of building stronger, more vibrant communities, and to what comes next! 👏 Full article here 🔗 lovelocal.scot/scotland-love…

Support for local businesses in Scotland 'stronger than ever' heraldscotland.com/news/2532… @sparks_stirling @MrsKimberleyG @heraldscotland

Originally launched to boost local trade during the pandemic, Scotland Loves Local has since become a lasting force for community pride and resilience. 💪 Scotland Loves Local has always been about more than shopping habits. It's about pride of place, people pulling together, and helping our towns thrive. And as we look ahead to Scotland Loves Local Week 2025, the message is clear: the need to #ChooseLocal is as strong as ever. One person who’s felt the difference is Wendy Ross, owner of Ruby Red and Driftwood in Milngavie. She recalls how the campaign and the backing of the local BID have helped bring neighbours through her doors, not just during the height of Covid, but well beyond it. Wendy says Milngavie now feels more connected than ever: “It’s a better place now than it was before.” Let’s carry that energy forward. Five years on, Scotland Loves Local is still making an impact. Join us in celebrating this fantastic initiative and everything it stands for. 💙

📣 Scotland Loves Local Week 2025 is coming! 💙 🗓️ 23rd August – 30th August 2025 Join us as we shine a spotlight on the people, places and partnerships powering local communities across Scotland. From local heroes to thriving town centres, #ScotlandLovesLocal Week is your chance to celebrate and support what makes your community special. 💡 Want to get involved? Email [email protected] to find out how your organisation, business or community can take part. 🎥 In the meantime, check out our wrap-up video from last year’s Scotland Loves Local Week and get inspired! youtube.com/watch?v=YByq-dp1… #ScotlandLovesLocal

🌞 What a fantastic day in Perth yesterday for our Summer Session! A huge thank you to everyone who made the journey and joined us for an afternoon of powerful insights and meaningful conversations. From strategic updates delivered by VisitScotland’s Vicki Miller, to a thought-provoking fireside chat with Roddy Smith from Essential Edinburgh and Aileen Crawford from Glasgow Life, the session brought fresh perspectives to the fore. It was brilliant to connect with so many like-minded leaders all working to strengthen Scotland’s town economies. Here’s to continued collaboration and shared ambition. 💪

🏆 Nominations are now open as the search begins for this year’s Scotland Loves Local Award winners! 🥇 Today marks the official launch of the 2025 Scotland Loves Local Awards, and we’re calling on communities across the country to help us celebrate the people and places that make a real difference. From High Street Heroes and Enterprising Communities, to inspirational Place Leaders and the coveted title of Town of the Year, these awards are about recognising the everyday brilliance driving renewal, resilience and pride across Scotland. Organised by Scotland’s Towns Partnership, these awards are your chance to shine a spotlight on those going above and beyond to make their places fairer, stronger, and more sustainable. 🌍 Got someone in mind? 📝 Nominations are now OPEN until 5pm, Wednesday 30th August. 🎉 Finalists will be revealed in September, with a celebration in Edinburgh this November! Let’s hear your stories. Let’s celebrate our local legends. Let’s show Scotland some love. 💙 👉 Nominate now: lovelocal.scot/awards/ 👉 Read the full news piece here: scotlandstowns.org/search-la…