On Saturday, 27 September 2025, Scotland’s Black community came together for an evening of pride, recognition and celebration as The Black Scottish Awards (TBSA) 2025 crowned a remarkable group of winners at the Hilton, Glasgow. The ceremony, now in its third year, showcased the depth of talent, leadership and community impact across Scotland, and served as a powerful reminder of the contributions Black Scots are making in every sector of society.
A Night of Champions and Changemakers
Hosted by Asabea Owusu and Tosin Ogunlesi, the awards evening blended stirring speeches, live performances and red-carpet moments that celebrated both individual achievement and collective progress. The event drew finalists and guests from across Scotland, shining a spotlight on grassroots organisations, young leaders, creatives, and corporate allies who are helping to build a more inclusive Scotland.
Meet some of the 2025 awardees
TBSA published its full gallery of winners on the awards site, among those honoured were:
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Amaechi Nsofor — Professional Senior Leader of the Year.
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Arnold Masayila — Professional Rising Star of the Year.
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Bradley Francis — Sportsperson of the Year.
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Eunice Simpson — Outstanding Contribution to the Black Community.
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HR Hub Plus — Business of Excellence of the Year.
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Janet Londele — Diversity Champion of the Year.
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Laura Vaughan — Ally of the Year.
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Oluwakemi Odunsi-Ujagbe — Creative of the Year.
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Timiebi Oyinpere — Sustainability Champion of the Year.
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West Lothian African Women’s Network — Community Organisation of the Year.
(See the TBSA winners gallery for the full list of awardees and photos.)
Why TBSA matters to BPU members
The Black Scottish Awards is more than a ceremony — it’s a platform that amplifies voices often under-represented in mainstream recognition. For BPU members (and the wider professional community) TBSA:
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Raises the profile of Black professionals and community organisations across Scotland.
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Connects emerging talents with senior leaders and allies who can provide mentorship and opportunity.
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Celebrates cross-sector achievements — from sport and sustainability to business and the arts — reinforcing that excellence takes many forms.
National recognition and momentum
The awards garnered wider national attention and acknowledgement as the ceremony continued to establish itself as an important fixture in Scotland’s cultural calendar. TBSA’s third edition demonstrates growing momentum behind efforts to champion Black excellence and inclusion across Scottish institutions. (The ceremony was formally noted in parliamentary Early Day Motions and covered by partners and stakeholders across Scottish civil society.)
Highlights & moments that stood out
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Powerful acceptance speeches from winners who framed their success as community victories.
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Performances and networking that created a warm, celebratory atmosphere — welcoming students, professionals, community organisers and allies alike.
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High turnout from across Scotland’s regions, reflecting the event’s national reach and TBSA’s commitment to a Scotland-wide nomination process.
Looking forward — How BPU can engage
BPU members and supporters can help sustain the positive momentum created by TBSA 2025 by:
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Amplifying winners’ work — follow and share awardees on social media; spotlight their projects in BPU channels.
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Mentoring and partnership — volunteer expertise or join mentorship schemes to support rising stars highlighted by TBSA.
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Nominate and attend next year — help ensure excellent candidates from your networks are put forward for TBSA 2026. TBSA’s open nomination process is designed to be inclusive, nominations typically open months before the ceremony.
TBSA 2025 underlined something BPU knows well: when we celebrate and invest in Black talent, we strengthen Scotland’s social and professional fabric. Congratulations to all winners, finalists and organisers for a night that celebrated achievement and ignited new possibilities. BPU looks forward to partnering with TBSA and supporting these leaders in the year ahead.