The Lord Provost has announced that nominations are now invited for The Edinburgh Award, one of the city’s top honours.
The people who are put forward for the award are people whose achievements have brought distinction to the capital, shaping the city as a centre of ideas, culture, innovation and compassion.
This is the 20th year of the award and some of those who have previously won the accolade include billionaire businessman, Sir Tom Farmer, fundraiser extraordinaire, Tam Gilzean, BEM, and Mel Young, MBE. Human rights campaigner and Vice-Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University Professor Sir Geoff Palmer also won the award in recent years.
The criteria are that the person must have been born in Edinburgh, lived here for the past 12 months or have a substantial asociation with the city. Anyone who has previously won the Freedom of the City or the Edinburgh Award itself, is not eligible. Serving politicians are not eligible.
The Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, Robert Aldridge, has urged individuals and businesses to nominate their favourites. He said: The Edinburgh Award gives us a chance to honour the individuals whose work and achievements continue to make Edinburgh the extraordinary city we all know and love. I am continually inspired by the way Edinburgh’s people support one another, and this award reflects that community spirit.
As we mark the 20th Edinburgh Award this is an opportunity to not only reflect on the outstanding individuals who have shaped our past but also to recognise those whose work is influencing our future. I encourage everyone to consider who inspires them, who goes above and beyond to make Edinburgh stronger, fairer, more innovative and has made a difference to our city and please submit a nomination.”
Past winners include:
Edinburgh Award recipients:
2025 Ali Bowden
2024 Mel Young MBE
2023 Nicola Benedetti
2022 Sir Geoff Palmer
2021 Fergus Linehan
2020 Alexander McCall Smith
2019 Ann Budge
2018 Doddie Weir
2017 Sir Timothy O’Shea
2016 Ken Buchanan MBE
2015 Sir Tom Farmer
2014 Thomas Gilzean
2013 Richard Demarco
2012 Dame Elizabeth Blackadder
2011 Professor Peter Higgs
2010 George Kerr CBE
2009 Sir Chris Hoy MBE
2008 JK Rowling OBE
2007 Ian Rankin OBE
