Inverurie has been named Scotland’s Town of the Year 2026, with the town’s Business Improvement District manager, Derek Ritchie, also receiving a High Street Hero Award for North East Scotland.
The Aberdeenshire town was selected from a shortlist that included East Kilbride, Falkirk, Fort William and Kirkwall. The Scotland Loves Local Awards are organised by Scotland’s Towns Partnership and supported by the Scottish Government.
The Town of the Year award recognises clear vision, partnership working and progress in strengthening local economies and communities.
Recent retail analysis recorded vacancy in Inverurie at around 4% of units and 1% of floorspace. Town-centre footfall increased by almost 10% between January 2025 and January 2026, while the town retains four major bank branches alongside a building society.
Its business community combines long-established independent firms with newer enterprises, professional services and national retailers, serving customers from across the wider Aberdeenshire area.
Ritchie, BID manager at We Are Inverurie, said: “To see Inverurie named Scotland’s Town of the Year is incredibly special, but this is an award for the whole town.
“There is no single project, organisation or person responsible for what Inverurie has become. It comes from businesses investing here, people choosing to shop and spend time here, volunteers giving enormous amounts of their time and organisations being willing to work together rather than separately.”
Through the BID, local businesses collectively fund projects to improve the trading environment. Its work includes business promotion, advocacy, training, digital development, events and attracting external funding.
The BID works with partners including Inverurie Events, Evolving Inverurie and Inverurie Environmental Improvement. Its funding and partnership support for Inverurie Events has helped develop a programme attracting thousands of visitors.
That programme includes the Christmas Festival, Taste of Garioch and the Garioch Pipe Band Championships. The Christmas lights switch-on regularly draws thousands into the town centre, while Taste of Garioch brings together food and drink producers, traders and visitors.
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Ritchie is also a trustee of Inverurie Events and Evolving Inverurie. His High Street Hero award recognises his work supporting businesses and connecting the commercial community with charities, public bodies and other local organisations.
He said: “To personally receive a High Street Hero Award in the same year is a real honour. I’m fortunate to work alongside so many people who care passionately about Inverurie, whether through BID or the many other organisations and businesses contributing to the town.”
