Honours and Civic Awards

The Edinburgh award was established in 2007 and is now a prestigious annual award to honour an outstanding individual who has made a positive impact on the city and gained national and international recognition for Edinburgh. Criteria for nomination are that the individual:

• was born in Edinburgh or has lived in the City for the past 12 months;
• has not previously been awarded The Freedom of the City;
• is not a previous winner of The Edinburgh Award;
• is not a serving politician.

The winner is presented with an engraved Loving Cup at a ceremony attended by award winners and young achievers from across the city and the winner's hand prints are reproduced on a flagstone in the City Chambers Quadrangle.  The previous recipients of the Edinburgh Award are:

Ian Rankin OBE [Presented 2007];

JK Rowling OBE [Presented 2008]

Sir Chris Hoy MBE [Presented 2009]

George Kerr CBE [Presented 2011] 

The recipient of the 2011 Award is Professor Peter Higgs who received his award at a reception in the City Chambers on Friday 24th February 2012.