Scottish Borders businesses come together to celebrate success
Businesses across the Scottish Borders will come together at Peebles Hydro Hotel on Friday evening for the Scottish Borders Business Excellence Awards 2026 (SBBEA) – an event celebrating the achievements, innovation and contribution of businesses across the region.
Organised by the Scottish Borders Chamber of Commerce (SBCC), the SBBEA have quickly established themselves as one of the region’s leading business awards and networking events, bringing together businesses of all sizes, their teams, clients and supporters for an evening of celebration.
SBCC Chairman Trevor Jackson said the growth of the awards had exceeded expectations.
“We have been a bit taken aback at how this has grown into such a major event,” said Trevor.
The 2026 awards ceremony has been sold out for some time, with a waiting list for places, highlighting the growing popularity of the event among the Scottish Borders business community.
“But, at the same time, this is what we were aiming for when we launched the awards,” Trevor added. “When you realise how many great businesses we have across the region, doing amazing things, it is no surprise at all that it has taken off.”
More than an awards ceremony
While the SBBEA recognise outstanding businesses and individuals across a range of categories, the evening is also about bringing the Scottish Borders business community together.
Trevor believes this social element has been central to the success of the awards.
“The key, I think, is that while there will be many awards handed out, the event has become a great social gathering for Borders business people, their staff and clients.
“We don’t have enough of that, where people get the chance to have a night out with colleagues and people like themselves working hard in local businesses, and just socialise.”
The event will also welcome Charandeep Singh, Chief Executive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce, who will deliver the keynote address. Chamber leaders from across Scotland will also attend, underlining the importance of the event within the wider Scottish business community.
Celebrating business excellence across the Scottish Borders
A total of 13 awards will be presented during the evening, recognising the breadth and diversity of businesses operating across the Scottish Borders.
Categories celebrate businesses and organisations demonstrating excellence in areas including:
Environmental and community impact
Innovation
Manufacturing
Developing young talent
Large, small and micro businesses
Food and drink production
Family businesses
New businesses
Regional business excellence
The evening will culminate with the announcement of the Borders Favourite Business, one of the most eagerly anticipated awards of the night.
Four businesses compete for Borders Favourite Business
This year, four district champions will go head-to-head for the coveted Borders Favourite Business title.
The finalists are:
Borders Competitions – Berwickshire
Café ReCharge – Ettrick and Lauderdale
Eden Café – Roxburghshire
The Perfect Fit – Tweeddale
The Perfect Fit returns as the reigning champion, having won the title for the past two years.
Record number of nominations for 2026 awards
The popularity of the Scottish Borders Business Excellence Awards is reflected not only in ticket sales but also in the record number of nominations received this year.
SBCC Membership Engagement Manager Roz Haughey said the volume and quality of nominations had made judging particularly challenging.
“It is brilliant to see so many people getting involved in what we see as a celebration of businesses, large and small, in the Borders,” said Roz.
“The fact that we were sold out of seats early this year was one indication of its popularity, but the number of nominations we received, and the quality of them, is another that has blown us away.”
The judging panel, made up of business people from across the region, faced the difficult task of selecting winners from an exceptionally strong field.
“The comment I heard most often from them was that they couldn’t separate some and we should just recognise everyone with an award,” Roz added.
“Sadly, that’s not how an awards event works and so we had to put them under pressure to choose winners. They’ve managed that, but there’s no doubt there is going to be a great atmosphere of celebration when people hear what local businesses have achieved in the past year.”
Shining a light on Scottish Borders business
For SBCC Chairman Trevor Jackson, the awards have always had a clear purpose: to showcase the exceptional work taking place across the region and challenge perceptions of what rural businesses can achieve.
“The purpose of this event was to shine the light on what is happening in the Scottish Borders, how innovative, clever and hard-working people here are,” he said.
While the evening will celebrate the 13 award winners, Trevor stressed that the achievements recognised through the nominations represent the strength of the wider Scottish Borders business community.
“There will also be recognition for many others who have shown once again that the Scottish Borders is, in the words of the council leader, ‘not punching above its weight, but proving itself to be a heavyweight’ – despite the challenges we have to overcome in making rural businesses work.”
Celebrating the Scottish Borders business community
The Scottish Borders Business Excellence Awards 2026 are more than an awards ceremony. They are an opportunity to celebrate the people, businesses and organisations helping to make the Scottish Borders a vibrant and successful place to do business.
With record nominations, a sold-out event and an exceptionally strong field of finalists, this year’s SBBEA promises to be a memorable celebration of Scottish Borders business excellence.
The Scottish Borders Chamber of Commerce is proud to bring the region’s business community together and shine a light on the businesses making a difference across the Borders.
