We've summarised some of the key events and anniversaries coming up in 2025, many of which present great opportunities to showcase your rural business and form new partnerships.
Following the success of its sheep and wool-themed year, RHET has produced a wide range of new learning content with a focus on dairy for the 24/25 academic year. Read more about The Journey of Food: All Things Dairy here: rhet.org.uk/teachers/the-journey-of-food-all-things-dairy
The UN has declared 2025 to be the International Year of Cooperatives to raise awareness of the invaluable contributions of cooperative enterprises to poverty reduction, employment generation and social integration. The Year will also highlight the strengths of the cooperative business model as an alternative means of doing business and furthering socioeconomic development. Read more.
Founded in 1905, SAOS has a rich 120-year history of empowering Scotland's farming and rural businesses through cooperation. They understand that strong leadership is key to a co-op's success. Under the chairmanship of Rory Christie, a passionate advocate for cooperatives and founder of the Milk Suppliers Association, SAOS leverages its extensive knowledge and experience to offer members a unique range of specialist services. These services go beyond what they can find elsewhere, helping members develop their businesses and talent. Contact SAOS today at saos.coop to discover how they can help your farm or rural business thrive.
Cultural Events
2025 is an interesting year for sport and the arts both at home and abroad...
Big names coming to Edinburgh include Oasis (8th,9th &12th August) and Robbie Williams (31st May). Other musical anniversaries included Debbie Harry's 80th birthday (1st July)
Bradford has been named the fourth UK City of Culture (a designation given to a different city every four years to use the arts to celebrate and regenerate forgotten areas). bradford2025.co.uk
The World Athletics Championships will be held in Tokyo from 13-21 September 2025. worldathletics.org
Anniversaries can be useful in your promotions, blogs and social media channels. (we include a list of forthcoming anniversaries in our monthly mailing). Some major anniversaries include:
Railway 200 - a celebration of the 200th anniversary of the modern railway. railway200.co.uk
The National Library of Scotland's Centenary, with special programming in Edinburgh and further afield to mark its 100th year.
Glasgow's 850th. See the website for details of the year-long programme of events. glasgow850.com
New for 2025
New for 2025 is the Inverness Castle Experience, offering visitors an immersive journey through the historic building while weaving in Scotland’s rich cultural heritage.
The sale of disposable vapes will be banned throughout the UK on 1st June.
A ban on junk food advertising on British television before 9.00 pm is scheduled to come into force on 1st October.
2025 will see the opening of two Scottish railway stations: East Kilbridge and Hairmyres.
Podcasts! We're excited to be working with some terrific sponsors to create even more OnFARM episodes to tell the story of the rural sector in Scotland and beyond. If you are interested in either commissioning or sponsoring an OnFARM episode or series, please get in touch
