Inverurie has today (Friday) been crowned as Scotland’s Town of the Year.
The picturesque Aberdeenshire market town - one of the fastest-growing in Scotland - has been presented with the title after impressing as a place where ideas are turned into action.
Judges in the Scotland Loves Local Awards, organised by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP), heard how the community rallies behind town traders and has united to stage showpiece events, boosting business by attracting thousands of people.
It is a spirit and effort which has been credited with Inverurie retaining one of the highest retail occupancy rates of any Scottish town, with a vibrant mix of generations-old family businesses, unique independent stores and national retailers.
And it has also bucked the trend of many by retaining the four major high street banks, as well as a building society - with footfall up by 10% in the year to January.
Television presenter Sean Batty - an ambassador for Scotland Loves Local - joined townsfolk to present the Town of the Year prize and celebrate their success.
He said: “Inverurie is buzzing. It’s fantastic to see the town so busy.
“It’s a lovely place and it’s clear to see just how proud people and businesses - some of which have been serving the community for three and four generations - are of the area. The way in which they are pulling together to create a real success story is so uplifting.”
Success for Inverurie follows years of collective working involving businesses, community organisations, volunteers, residents and the public sector.
Provost of Aberdeenshire, Councillor Judy Whyte, is a lifelong Inverurie resident who lives just a stone’s throw from the Town Hall.
She said: “I couldn’t be prouder for Inverurie to be Scotland’s Town of the Year. We have so much to offer here - for visitors, as well as people who choose to live and work here. It’s a great place.
“This is a special market town which has retained its country heart, while having everything that people need in their modern life.
“Its success lies in the fact that we have a great community of people who each do lots of really meaningful things. Collectively, that all comes together to be a huge success.”
We Are Inverurie Business Improvement District (BID) works alongside Inverurie Events and others to help attract people to the town.
That work includes launching The Garioch Pipe Band Championships in Kellands Park last year (2025), attracting an estimated 9,000 visitors.
It is on top of the annual Big Switch On of the town’s Christmas lights, which attracts about 8,000 people as well as the monthly farmers’ market which has doubled in size since 2024, with 34 stalls drawing shoppers into the Market Square.
Minister for Business and Fair Work Tom Arthur said: “I would like to congratulate Inverurie on being named Scotland’s Town of the Year.
“This award recognises the collective effort of the local community, businesses and organisations, and highlights how a strong Business Improvement District, combined with a community-led approach, can help unlock a town’s potential and create a thriving future for all who live, work and visit there.”
Official statistics show that Inverurie’s population grew by a fifth (19%) to 15,106 between 2011 and 2022.