Stirling Business Awards Shortlist

Thanks to the incredible support of so many, we are thrilled to share that we’ve been shortlisted for “Visitor Attraction of the Year” at this year’s Stirling Business Awards.

Words can’t fully express our gratitude, but we’re certainly going to do our best to try!

First and foremost, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to our incredible volunteers for the time, dedication, and energy they bring to the museum.

From delivering the 5-star visitor experience on the museum floor, to transcribing diaries, organising archive collections, conducting research, supporting education programmes aligned with the Curriculum for Excellence, and crafting blogs and social media content – their contributions are invaluable.

We simply couldn’t achieve what we do without the hard work and passion of each and every one of them.

This year has been full of memorable moments, including our annual Regimental Day at Stirling Castle. On this special day, the museum takes over the castle, offering visitors an immersive experience with reenactments, crafts, handling sessions, storytelling, and lectures – with no additional cost to visitors.

We were fortunate to have the support of some of our amazing volunteers, including Terry and Rosalind (pictured), who played key roles in making the event a success.

One highlight of the day was the return of sentry duty guards for the first time in years. It was wonderful to see the excitement and engagement from visitors, young and old, who thoroughly enjoyed this unique addition to the event.

This year, our education programmes flourished with the incredible support of our volunteers. The museum team had the pleasure of welcoming over 10 schools and numerous community groups from across the local area, including Cornton, Raploch, and Riverside, as well as from further afield, such as Glasgow, Lochgelly, and even Tobermory.

A heartfelt thank you to our volunteers – your dedication makes these opportunities possible. We’re excited to continue working with you and look forward to all the exciting projects and events we have planned for the future!

The staff team have also been busy over 2024.

This year has been filled with highlights, including the honour of hosting Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, along with members and supporters of the Duke of Edinburgh Award, for a special visit to the museum.

With the support of Museums Galleries Scotland, some of our team have been collaborating with pupils from Beancross Primary School on an exciting project. This initiative not only helps develop essential skills such as research, teamwork, and literacy but also introduces the idea that a future career in museums is within their reach.

Throughout the year, our staff have hosted lectures at various locations across the area, including Raploch, Cowane Hospital, and Gleneagles, where they’ve shared fascinating insights into the history of the regiment and its actions both locally and abroad.

In addition to these talks, our team has organised a wide range of engaging activities, such as Bagpipe Handling Workshops, Craft Sessions, and Quiet Hours, ensuring the museum remains an inclusive and welcoming space for everyone.

The museum curator also completed hundreds of research enquiries, donation offers, and questions throughout 2024.

Finally, we’d like to take a moment to recognise the invaluable contributions of those outside the museum who help enrich our offering and support the day-to-day logistics. Situated within Stirling Castle, the museum team enjoys a close partnership with the Castle staff, who assist with operations, health and safety, and even volunteer their time for museum research.

We are incredibly grateful for their ongoing support and collaboration, which play a vital role in the museum’s success.

Museum CEO, Islay Carmichael would like to add:

“The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Regimental Museum Trust and Staff are extremely proud and excited to be voted and shortlisted as finalists in the Stirling Business Awards 2025 under the visitor attraction category. The museum staff continue to develop the Regimental legacy through our 5 Star Visit Scotland status with 274,000 visitors visiting the museum from 1^st September 2023 to 31^st August 2024.

Our Education programme (National Curriculum level 5) has delivered to over 1000 School Students and our outreach activities here in the Kings Old Building and out in the community has reached 4,098 from schools, community groups and third sector.

We continue to integrate and support the various business organisations Stirling Council, Forth Valley Chambers of Commerce and its members, because together the business opportunities are greater for the common good and the City of Stirling.

The Museum Trustees and Staff are working tirelessly to ensure our Regimental Legacy continues through development and ensuring future generations learn and never forget.”

If you would like to know more about our projects, you can follow our website and social media platforms for regular updates.

Well done to all the shortlisted businesses!

Written by Caitlin Meldrum, Audience and Communications Officer with input from Islay Carmichael, Museum CEO