Leys Estate Group has been nominated for two prestigious rural awards.

Scottish Land & Estates has announced the finalists for their Helping It Happen Awards, supported by headline sponsor NatureScot. The awards scheme focuses on estates, farms, rural businesses and individuals enabling success in rural communities.

Leys Estate Group has received nominations in the Education Award and Rural Business Award.

During 2022, Leys Estate Group launched its Education Strategy which formalised its commitment to working in partnership with local schools and organisations, bringing the curriculum to life, engaging with young people and providing quality work experience opportunities.

In the past 12 months the Leys Estate Group team, encompassing members from across all departments, has built on existing ad-hoc outreach activities and increased its involvement with local schools, community groups, higher education establishments and sports clubs within the Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire community, delivering on its vision statement and commitment to ‘Educating the Future’.

Leys Estate is the historical home of the Burnett of Leys family and has been within the ownership of the family since 1323.

As well as traditional rural activities, Leys Estate provides land and buildings for a diverse range of over 150 independent local businesses, community organisations and charitable organisations in addition to operating a number of Group businesses.

During 2023 Leys Estate will be marking its 700th anniversary of positive contribution to the Crathes and Banchory area through a number of events and initiatives and setting out its commitment to ensuring a positive legacy remains for the next chapter.

Scottish Land & Estates’ Chief Executive, Sarah-Jane Laing, said: “We are delighted to receive a record-breaking number of nominations for this year’s awards and these stories of success from all over Scotland are inspirational.

“A number of categories have been hotly contested and we are looking forward to the opportunity to celebrate with our finalists and winners at the awards ceremony in October.”

Another north-east business has also been shortlisted. Cairngorm Bothies, based near Logie Coldstone near Aboyne, has been nominated for the Iver Salverson Award for Combatting Climate Change.

You can view a full list of finalists, and more information about the annual awards here.