Alison Davidson receives Outstanding Achievement Award

Alison Davidson, Team Lead for Economic Development at Clackmannanshire Council, has received the Outstanding Achievement Award 2026 at the Forth Valley Business Week Business Fundraising Lunch, held at Inglewood House & Spa, Alloa, on 18 September. Presented during the event’s tenth anniversary, the award recognised Alison’s contribution to the regional economy and her role in helping launch the original Business Week in 2016.

Sponsored by Handelsbanken, the award is Business Week’s highest accolade, celebrating vision, leadership, resilience and a sustained contribution to enterprise and economic development across Forth Valley.

For 35 years, Alison has helped businesses start, grow and thrive while championing employability and regional collaboration.

Forth Valley Business Week’s highest accolade

She began at STEP in Stirling in 1990, progressing from Property Manager to Assistant Director. She later spent eight years at Ceteris in Alloa, leading the Business Development Team and overseeing the Business Gateway contract and wider economic development initiatives.

Leading opportunity today

Today, at Clackmannanshire Council, Alison leads business and employability programmes, chairs the Local Employability Partnership and the Clackmannanshire Business Support Partnership, and represents the Council on local and national groups. She is also working with Stirling and Falkirk Councils to develop the regional Local Growth Fund and shape future investment across Forth Valley.

From Business Week to a regional network

In 2016, Alison helped found Clackmannanshire Business Week with Margaret Mary Rafferty, then Chief Executive of Ceteris, and the Business Support team. She co-ordinated its formative years through to 2020. Created to champion enterprise, connection and ambition, the programme has grown into Forth Valley Business Week, bringing together businesses, educators, investors, policymakers and support organisations from across the region.

Also in 2016, Alison established Clacks Women in Business to connect and support female entrepreneurs and business leaders. It has since evolved into Emerge Women, a Ceteris-led network for ambitious women across Clackmannanshire, Stirling, Falkirk and beyond.

“Few people have contributed as much to Forth Valley’s economic development as Alison. Throughout her career, she has supported businesses, championed entrepreneurship, strengthened employability and created opportunities across Stirling, Clackmannanshire and Falkirk. From STEP, Ceteris and Business Gateway to Clackmannanshire Council, she has consistently brought people and organisations together to deliver positive change. She continues to shape regional opportunities today and is an incredibly deserving recipient.” Maggie Gorman, Business Support and Development Director at Ceteris

“I’m absolutely delighted to receive this award as Forth Valley Business Week celebrates its tenth anniversary. Helping to launch the original event was a real highlight, and very much a team effort. I’m grateful to the colleagues, partners and businesses I have worked with over the past 35 years, and I look forward to continuing that collaboration to support businesses, people and communities across Clackmannanshire and the wider Forth Valley.” Alison Davidson

Ten years after Alison helped launch the original Business Week, her recognition at its tenth anniversary brings the story full circle. It celebrates the impact she has had — and continues to make — to businesses, people and communities across Forth Valley.