Dundee Culture founder Andrew Batchelor has been named a finalist in the Chamber Champion Awards 2026

Dundee Culture founder Andrew Batchelor has been named a finalist in the Chamber Champion Awards 2026, receiving recognition in the Impact Individual category for his contribution to the city through the popular Dundee-focused platform.

The announcement adds to a growing list of accolades for Andrew and Dundee Culture in recent weeks. Earlier this year, he was recognised as one of Scotland’s leading Arts & Culture influencers at the Scottish Influencer Awards before being named Dundonian of the Year.

Founded in 2013 when Andrew was just 12 years old, Dundee Culture has grown into the city’s largest online platform, reaching millions of people each month through news, features, photography, events coverage and community campaigns.

Reflecting on the recognition, Andrew described the news as “incredibly humbling” and said he never imagined receiving honours such as these when he first launched the platform nearly 13 years ago.

He highlighted several recent achievements that have made a significant impact across the city, including helping secure the future of Mills Observatory and opening Dundee Culture up as a work experience opportunity for young people looking to gain skills and experience within media and communications.

Andrew said the recognition was not solely his own and paid tribute to the thousands of people who support Dundee Culture every day by following the platform, sharing stories, commenting on posts, providing news tips and engaging with content.

“Dundee Culture would not exist without your support,” he said. “Every person who follows, likes, comments, shares a post, sends a message, tips me off about a story, or simply takes the time to read what I create has played a part in this journey.”

Public voting for the Chamber Champion Awards opens on 13 July, giving people the opportunity to support their favourite business or individual across each category.

The public vote will be counted alongside the judging panel’s scores.

Andrew has encouraged anyone who has enjoyed following Dundee Culture over the years to consider voting when the process opens, with further details expected to be shared closer to the date.

The Chamber Champion Awards celebrate individuals and organisations making a positive difference across the region, with finalists recognised for their contribution to communities, businesses and the local economy.

For Andrew, the nomination represents another milestone in a journey that began as a passion project and has since grown into one of Dundee’s most influential online platforms.