Parliamentary praise for Paisley’s Town of the Year success

Scottish Government Minister hails town’s victory as special Scotland Loves Local reception is held at Holyrood

A Scottish Government minister has praised Paisley after it was named as Scotland’s Town of the Year.

The town’s success was celebrated as part of a special Scotland Loves Local reception held in the Scottish Parliament yesterday evening (Weds).

And, celebrating Paisley’s achievement, Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee said: “Paisley has faced a number of challenges over recent years but this award shows what is possible when there is a co-ordinated and collaborative approach to investment.  

“It is just one of many projects made possible by the Scottish Government’s ongoing commitment to the regeneration of our towns and cities, which is being supported by more than £62 million this year.”

Paisley was named as Town of the Year in the Scotland Loves Local Awards on October 24 in recognition of the critical point reached in the town’s “resurgence” amid unprecedented cultural-led investment in its future.

Judges for awards organisers Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP) hailed the town’s “remarkable journey of reinvention and rejuvenation” which has evolved over the past decade.

Among those who were at Holyrood to mark the town’s success as part of the Celebration of Scotland Loves Local Reception were representatives of Paisley First Business Improvement District.

Chair, Elaine Templeton, said: “It’s great to see Paisley in the spotlight, there’s a lot happening and hopefully this award will encourage more people to take a fresh look at all the town has to offer.

“We’re so proud of our local business community, they truly are the heartbeat of the town centre.

“It’s been inspiring to meet all this year’s Scotland Loves Local winners, so many people working hard to ensure their local communities are great places to work, live and visit.

“Great things happen when we all Love Local.”

Renfrewshire Council has led the significant regeneration of Paisley through the investment of more than £100million in its unique cultural assets as part of a culture-led approach with the local community.

This includes the transformation of Paisley Museum set to open in 2026 and the completed refurbishments of Paisley Town Hall, Paisley Arts Centre, the new Paisley Learning and Cultural Hub, which houses the Central Library on the High Street, and an extensive events programme which 

Councillor Michelle Campbell, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board, said: “This award for Paisley is recognition for what the Council has delivered across the past decade having made a conscious decision to put culture at the heart of our regeneration and investing in our buildings and our people.

“We’re using the town’s rich heritage to envisage and implement a bold vision for the future with our ongoing investment reshaping the town’s future and creating opportunities for residents, visitors and businesses.

“The award is for everybody that has been on this journey with us so far and we’re looking forward to the positive future we are creating for Paisley.”

In addition to cultural investment, Renfrewshire Council is also enhancing education provision through the new £85.5m Paisley Grammar School Community Campus, improving housing with projects like the West End masterplan which is creating new social and private housing in the town’s West End, and creating new transport connections from Paisley to the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) and Glasgow Airport through the £59million AMIDS South project.

The Celebration of Scotland Loves Local in the Scottish Parliament shone a spotlight on the winners and finalists of all of the categories in the Scotland Loves Local Awards, including those named as the nation’s High Street Heroes for 2025.

It highlighted the critical part that localism – and local action – is playing in driving community community wealth and building a fairer, stronger and more sustainable Scotland for all.

And it served as a reminder of the transformational difference that everyone can make to that by choosing local and getting behind businesses in their community.

Businesses throughout Renfrewshire have played a key part in championing that message since Scotland Loves Local was launched five years ago.

Kimberley Guthrie, STP’s Chief Officer, said: “Through Scotland Loves Local this year, we have been celebrating the fact that it’s people who make places. The achievements of the winners and finalists in our awards are testament to that fact.

“Through their vision, innovation and determination, they not only helping to create a new future not only for the places they call home and work, but inspiring communities the length and breadth of the country.

“Community-led activity is at the forefront of positive change across Scotland. We have seen a real resurgence in that in recent years – and it’s critical for our economy that we keep that momentum going. Everyone can play their part in supporting that by choosing local.”

Spearheaded by STP and supported by the Scottish Government, Scotland Loves Local is the movement encouraging people to create a better future for their community by choosing local. 

The Scotland Loves Local Awards recognise and reward all that’s great about the nation’s towns and neighbourhoods and the work to ensure they become stronger and more sustainable.

Details about all of the award winners can be found at www.lovelocal.scot.