Edinburgh Chamber Shortlisted for Prestigious UK Chamber of the Year Award
Rising Stars leadership programme recognised for its impact on developing Edinburgh’s future business leaders
Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce has been shortlisted for the British Chambers of Commerce’s UK Chamber of the Year Award, becoming the only Scottish Chamber recognised in the national category. The award recognises outstanding projects from across the UK Chamber network that demonstrate innovation, collaboration and measurable impact for businesses, members and local communities.
The Chamber’s submission centred on its Rising Stars Professional Development Programme, an innovative leadership initiative designed to support early and mid-career professionals and help employers develop the next generation of business leaders.
Developed in response to skills and leadership challenges identified by Edinburgh’s business community, the programme brings together academic expertise and real-world business insight to equip emerging leaders with the confidence, capability and mindset needed to thrive in a rapidly changing workplace.
The programme builds on the success of the Chamber’s wider Rising Stars network, which has connected more than 500 professionals from over 200 organisations since 2022, providing a platform for future leaders to build relationships, share experiences and grow their professional networks.
Working in partnership with The University of Edinburgh, the inaugural programme brought together participants from sectors including professional services, healthcare, retail, real estate and the third sector. Through a blend of leadership development, strategic thinking, communication skills, emotional intelligence, innovation and AI-focused learning, Rising Stars has helped participants strengthen the skills that employers have identified as critical for the future workforce.
A key feature of the programme was its emphasis on peer learning and knowledge sharing across sectors. Bringing together professionals from a diverse range of organisations created opportunities to exchange ideas, challenge established ways of thinking and gain fresh perspectives on common workplace challenges. The strength of these connections has led to the creation of a Rising Stars Alumni Network, enabling participants to continue learning from one another and fostering ongoing collaboration beyond the programme itself.
Participant feedback demonstrated the programme’s impact, with every participant reporting increased confidence as a leader and stating that the programme met or exceeded their expectations. Many also highlighted the value of learning alongside peers from different sectors, exposing them to new ideas, approaches and perspectives that they could take back into their own organisations.
Liz McAreavey, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said:
“We are delighted and honoured to be shortlisted for UK Chamber of the Year.
“This recognition is a tribute to the amazing, hard-working and creative team at Edinburgh Chamber, together with the partnerships we build and nurture helping us deliver real impact for businesses across the city and region.
“Our ‘Rising Stars’ programme is a great example of what can be achieved when business and education come together with a shared ambition. Through our partnership with The University of Edinburgh, we’ve created a programme that is developing the next generation of leaders while strengthening the talent pipeline for organisations across Edinburgh and beyond.
“At a time when attracting, developing and retaining talent remains a priority for employers, investing in people has never been more important. By building confidence, capability and ambition in emerging leaders, we’re supporting individual career development while contributing to a stronger, more innovative and resilient economy for the future.”
Our selection reflects the Chamber’s commitment to evolving its activities in response to the changing needs of businesses, supporting a thriving business community, and helping to shape Edinburgh’s future economic success.
The British Chambers of Commerce is the national body for the UK’s accredited Chambers of Commerce, representing a network of more than 50,000 businesses employing six million people.
