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Ten years ago, a simple idea was born: what if we dedicated a month to celebrating, connecting and inspiring the business community in Stirling?
Fast forward to 2025 — Stirling Business Month has become one of the region’s most anticipated fixtures in the local calendar, uniting hundreds of entrepreneurs, leaders and changemakers under one shared mission: to discover, connect and grow.
Since its launch in 2015, Stirling Business Month has grown from a handful of workshops and networking sessions into a dynamic, month-long celebration of enterprise.
Over the past decade, we’ve delivered 69 events, welcomed 3,258 attendees, and created countless partnerships and collaborations that continue to shape Stirling’s business landscape.
Every September, the programme has evolved to reflect the challenges and opportunities of the time — from early conversations about innovation and diversification in 2016, to tackling mental health in business and the post-pandemic recovery, through to today’s focus on sustainability, digitalisation and inclusive growth.
2015–2016: Beginnings and Optimism
The first Stirling Business Month held in March 2015 set the tone for everything that followed. Over 850 delegates joined a packed programme hosted by Shereen Nanjiani, with speakers including McQueen Gin founder Dale McQueen, Simone Sibbald of Perfect Service Solutions, and Stephen Boyle, Head of Group Economics at RBS, who described Stirling as “one of the fastest-growing parts of Scotland.”
Innovation was a major theme from the outset, with Dogfi.sh Mobile demonstrating how technology can drive local growth, while creative industries and rural diversification were explored through events with Forth Valley College and Gartmore House.
The feedback was immediate and enthusiastic:
“It was great to see so many local business leaders together, ready to drive Stirling forward.” “Excellent speakers — a real celebration of Stirling’s entrepreneurial spirit.”
Those early successes proved there was an appetite for something bigger — and Stirling Business Month quickly became a mainstay of the local business calendar.
2016–2019: Change and Challenge
Over these years, the programme mirrored the challenges faced by the business community itself — always aiming to make support tangible and relatable. When Brexit uncertainty arrived in 2016, it brought new hurdles around trade, regulation and workforce mobility. Local companies leaned on each other — and on STEP — to navigate change, explore export options and find new routes to growth.
Despite the uncertainty, Stirling’s economy thrived. By 2019, the city’s tourism, hospitality and creative sectors were flourishing, and business confidence was strong. Stirling Business Month reflected this energy, focusing on innovation, leadership, and the regions growing reputation as a hub for entrepreneurship.
2020–2021: Adapting through the Pandemic
Then, in 2020, the world changed. The COVID-19 pandemic brought lockdowns and uncertainty almost overnight. Yet Stirling Business Month didn’t stop — it simply adapted. Within weeks, STEP had taken the entire programme online, hosting digital panels, webinars and virtual meet-ups that kept people connected when they needed it most.
Those online months proved invaluable but reminded us of something simple: nothing compares to being in the same room. The conversations over coffee, the energy of a live audience, and the chance encounters that spark ideas — these are what Stirling Business Month is built on. As soon as restrictions lifted, we made a conscious choice to return to face-to-face events wherever possible.
2022–2024: Recovery, Resilience and Renewal
The following years tested businesses in new ways. Rising costs, inflation and the energy crisis created fresh challenges but also renewed determination. Local businesses doubled down on efficiency, sustainability and collaboration.
Through it all, Stirling Business Month reflected the moment — tackling topics such as business resilience, digital transformation, sustainable growth and the wellbeing of both people and planet. Each year became a snapshot of the times: from optimism after the financial crash, through uncertainty, global crisis and now into recovery
2025: Celebrating 10 Years of Impact
This year’s tenth-anniversary edition brought together 129 attendees across nine events, celebrating the resilience and creativity that define Stirling’s business community.
The month opened with the Economy and InBusiness Breakfast, where Claire Newman (AAB) shared her optimistic outlook for the city’s economic growth — forecasting Stirling as “the biggest growth journey in Scotland over the next three years.”
Dr Ines Branco-Illodo from Stirling Management School highlighted the growing importance of the wellbeing economy: “The wellness market is increasing considerably — and Stirling businesses are perfectly placed to lead this movement.”
Entrepreneur of the Year Jason Wagner inspired attendees with his trademark energy and honesty, urging aspiring founders to back themselves:
“Go for it. If you don’t, nothing changes. If you do and it works, fantastic — and if it doesn’t, that’s fine. You just try something new.”
This year’s Rural Business Forum – ‘Beyond the Village’ once again reminded us that rural innovation is alive and well. From export-ready small producers to family farms embracing digital markets, the conversation centred on opportunity, not geography. Cavu Aerospace’s Ali Manni described how his Stirling-based company is attracting international clients from NASA to the European Space Agency, proving that world-class innovation can (and does) happen here.
At the Business Funding Showcase, STEP and its partners — including Scottish Enterprise and the British Business Bank — helped demystify access to finance. Charles Broadfoot (Scottish Enterprise) emphasised that “around 50% of business growth directly comes from innovation,” while Barry McCulloch (British Business Bank) reminded attendees that “no business owner is alone on their funding journey.”
The event underscored Stirling Business Month’s core purpose: connecting people with the knowledge, networks and opportunities that help them move forward.
Revisiting archive footage from 2015–2024 paints a powerful picture of how far the local ecosystem has come.
From early sessions on technology adoption and diversification to today’s focus on global ambition and wellbeing, the themes may have evolved — but the spirit of collaboration has never wavered. Over the years, the programme has welcomed voices from across the country — from Glasgow-based founders praising Stirling’s “buzz and energy,” to local employers celebrating the region’s workforce, location and community spirit. That blend of optimism and togetherness is what makes Stirling Business Month unique.
As we close this milestone year, the message is clear: Stirling’s story is still being written. Investment through the City Region Deal, the rise of innovation hubs and a strong culture of collaboration mean the next ten years promise even greater things.
Throughout its ten years, Stirling Business Month has remained true to its original purpose — to connect, inspire and empower local businesses.
It continues to be fully funded and delivered by STEP, with every event offered free of charge to attendees. That ethos of accessibility and reinvestment sits at the heart of what we do. By removing financial barriers and creating space for genuine connection,
Stirling Business Month ensures that support reaches those who need it most — from first-time founders to established employers looking to grow.
To everyone who has hosted, supported, or attended an event — thank you.
Together, we’ve built more than a business month; we’ve built a movement that celebrates what makes Stirling special: its people, its ideas, and its belief in shared success.
Here’s to the next decade of discovery, connection, and growth.
We’re always open to new ideas and collaborations and welcome partners who want to help shape the next chapter.
If you have feedback, suggestions or would like to work with us on future Stirling Business Month programmes, please get in touch at marketing@stepscotland.co.uk.
