“The pride o’ Scotland”: Scots Language Awards 2025 winners celebrate success

The winners of the Scots Language Awards 2025 have been announced at a celebration of Scotland’s indigenous language held at Discovery Point in Dundee.

Figures from literature, education, business, and the community were honoured for their outstanding contributions to the Scots leid in everyday life.

The seventh annual awards saw writers, teachers, businesses, charities and creatives recognised across 12 categories, highlighting the importance of the language to Scottish national identity, the education of young people and its contribution to the health of Scotland’s cultural scene.

Scottish actress, director and writer Gerda Stevenson was bestowed with the Janet Paisley Services to Scots award sponsored by Creative Scotland, a lifetime achievement honour recognising decades of commitment to the language. The Young Scots Writer o the Year award, sponsored by Education Scotland, went to 16-year-old Morven Templeton from South Ayrshire.

The awards’ panel of judges also named Dictionaries of the Scots Language, Scotland’s independent lexicographical body for the Scots language, Scots Champion for their provision of the major dictionaries of the Scots language.

A public vote, which saw more than 16,000 votes cast, determined the remaining winners across the day.

Yvonne Tait from Shetland claimed the prestigious Scots Writer o the Year award, sponsored by the National Library of Scotland in recognition of her significant contribution to preserving and celebrating Shetland dialect through creative writing.

Former Scottish Makar Jackie Kay secured the Scots Bairns’ Book o the Year award sponsored by the Scottish Government for Coorie Doon: A Scottish Lullaby Story. The celebration of traditional Scottish lullabies includes QR codes linking to audio recordings and beautiful illustrations by Jill Calder.

Meanwhile, Iain MacLachlain won Scots Book o the Year for his debut novel This Is What You Get – a powerful work of contemporary Scottish fiction exploring the experiences of young men joining a Scottish Infantry battalion during 1980s economic devastation.

Aberdeen’s Seagully Blonde, a Doric adaptation of Legally Blonde performed by students from RGU, the University of Aberdeen and NESCol, won Scots Community Project o the Year. The production raised funds for 50 local charities whilst showcasing the vibrant tradition of Aberdeen Student Show, which has been running since 1921.

In education, Mirren Aird from Perth High School won Scots Teacher o the Year, sponsored by the Scottish Qualifications Authority, whilst Meethill Primary in Peterhead claimed Scots Schuil o the Year, for their commitment to integrating local dialect into the curriculum.

In the world of performance, So Long Wee Moon by Braw Clan triumphed as Scots Stage Production o the Year, making them two-time winners at the annual awards.

Ellie Beaton from Aberdeenshire won Scots Performer o the Year, sponsored by TRACS. The 2025 BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year, Ellie has become one of the most outstanding voices in Scotland’s folk scene, lovingly sharing the Scots language through song.

Dundee’s The Selkie Cafe took home the Scots in Business award for excellence in incorporating Scots language into business branding, demonstrating how businesses can authentically incorporate Scots language into their identity while serving their local community.

The awards returned to Dundee for the first time in three years, hosted by the city’s own Taylor Dyson, who is this year’s National Library of Scotland Scots Scriever, alongside Angus folk singer Lynne Campbell.

The event saw Scots performers show off the language at its best, with Scots Performer o the Year winner Ellie Beaton taking to the stage to perform, alongside slam poetry pro Hamish MacDonald and Edinburgh vocalist Amy Leach. The bash was followed by an after party at Dundee Scots Language night Blether, giving nominees and winners alike the chance to celebrate all things Scots.

Scots Language Awards host Taylor Dyson said: “Oor Scots Leid Awards winners are truly the pride o Scotland. Each ane o them huv played a vital role in makin shair Scots is yaised, taught, shared, performed or turnt intae airt. I love that we hae these awards tae recognise thum.

“Fae the role o community organisations tae commercial enterprises, fowk are keepin Scots alive and thrivin in day tae day life. Tae the education sector’s efforts in weavin local dialects o Scots and culture in tae the curriculum. Tae the singers, performers and scrievers takin Scots aa across the country. We hae these amazin fowk preservin oor language, and that is clear every year fae the Scots Language Awards. So a big congratulations tae aa oor wunnerfu winners, oor bra nominees and aabdy that voted, came alang and supportit the awards and aa these fowk. Scots is thrivin, it is in a positive place and it has an affy bright future indeed!”

The Scots Language Awards are among a number of events and outreach activities carried out by Hands Up For Trad as part of the organisation’s ongoing vital cultural advocacy work, promoting and developing Scotland’s indigenous cultural assets.

Visit www.scotslanguageawards.com.

Headline image: Taylor Dyson and Lynne Campbell