Scottish Beekeepers Association

Local Association Award Nominations
2026-01-31 | Perth and Kinross
NOMINATE YOUR ASSOCIATION WINNERS
It’s that time of year when we ask affiliated local association secretaries to gather nominations for those members who go above and beyond for your association. Our ABA Award is given to beekeepers in recognition of the quality of their contribution within their local association, and for their active promotion of the art of beekeeping in the environment of that association. The recipient must have been an SBA member for at least 7 years (we can check this for you). For more details on all the SBA awards please click here.
If you have someone in mind, please send your award nominations to our Secretary via email by the 31st of January.
secretary@scottishbeekeepers.org.uk

Young Beekeepers Award
2026-01-31 | Online
YOUNG BEEKEEPERS’ AWARD
We’re buzzing with excitement to announce that nominations are open for our Scottish Young Beekeepers’ Award! This award celebrates Scotland’s young beekeepers (under 18 years old) who are making a real difference in their local environment, supporting bees, and inspiring others. Whether they’ve helped grow a hive, educate their community, or shown outstanding dedication to beekeeping, we want to hear their story!
Do you know a young beekeeper who deserves recognition? Nominations are now open!
Download the award criteria and nomination guidance here.
The winner will have the honour of being recognised as one of Scotland’s most inspiring young beekeepers. The awards are normally presented at our Annual General Meetings, or in the award recipient’s local area.
Let’s celebrate the next generation of beekeepers! Spread the word and submit your nominations today! The closing date for nominations is Sunday 31st January 2026.

February Webinar Bottom-Up Beekeeping with Ray Baxter
2026-02-11 19:30 - 21:00 (Europe/London) | Online
In February with Ray Baxter, we explore how to use the debris from the hive floor as an indicator of colony activity and a way to interpret what’s happening inside and outside of the colony.
Ray’s passion for beekeeping started fifteen years ago when he was working as a biology teacher. His initial plan was to learn more about honey bees and share this experience with high school students in the biology classroom. This quickly developed from being an occasional lesson into an extracurricular bee club, to putting beekeeping on the school timetable as a Scottish National Progression Award (GCSE level) and supporting other schools with the development of their own beekeeping qualifications.
Our webinars are free to SBA members and £2 for Non-Members.
To book your place, please click here

Ulster Beekeepers Annual Conference
2026-02-13 08:00 - 2026-02-14 17:00 | Greemount Campus, CAFRE Greenmount Campus, Antrim, BT41 4PS
ULSTER BEEKEEPERS’ ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE
13th to 14th FEB 2026, GREENMOUNT CAMPUS, ANTRIM
THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME, BEEKEEPING IN THE 21st CENTURY
TWO DAYS OF CUTTING-EDGE SCIENCE, PRACTICAL BEEKEEPING AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING WORKSHOPS.
Workshops include:
Honey Extraction, Microscopy, Working with Wax, Skep Making, Encaustic Art, Mead Making and Simple Skincare Products from beeswax & honey
Speakers include:
Margarita M Lopez – Uribe Sao Carlos Universit,y Brazil
Prof. Alice Pinto – Polytechnic Inst. Braganca, Portugal
Peter Davies – National Bee Unit
Maggie Gill – PHIRA Science/DEFRA
Jack Silberrad – National Bee Unit
Rebecca Coleman – E H Thorne Ltd
Jonathan Getty – NIHBS
Dr Grace McCormack – University of Galway

March Webinar Different Philosophies of Honey Judging with Gino Jabbar
2026-03-10 19:30 - 21:00 | Online
Our last winter webinar of this series is with our webinar host Dr Gino Jabbar. On Tuesday 10th of March, we welcome Gino and he shall be talking about the different philosophies of honey judging. The UK and Irish, Italian and French systems of honey judging will be summarised and discussed.
Dr Gino Jabbar is a Physicist, Bee Farmer, and Honey Sensory Analyst based in Edinburgh. Simply Honey produces multi-award-winning honey from bees kept in the City of Edinburgh and the surrounding Lothian regions. He is a Scottish Expert Bee Master and a Member of the prestigious Italian National Register of Experts in the Sensory Analysis of Honey. He is an International Honey Judge for several international contests, including The Great Taste Awards. Gino is actively involved with Honey education and contributes to new science as a member of the International Honey Commission. He serves as a trustee for The Scottish Beekeepers Association and is also the director with responsibility for Scotland for the Bee Farmers Association.
Our webinars are free to SBA members and £2 for Non-Members.
To book your place, please click here

Module Examinations March 2026
2026-03-21 | Online or exam centres (TBC)
SBA Module Exams will be held on 21st March 2026.
Please apply by 9th February 2026, apply by clicking here
Why not use the winter months to expand your honeybee and beekeeping knowledge and study for one of our module exams?
You can find out all about the different types of modules and topics to study by visiting the Education pages on our website, or click here
Modules 1 to 8 will be offered, but the Plants and Pollinators (P&P) will not be offered until November.
Note: Module 8 can not be sat until all other modules (except P&P) have been completed.
Applicants must be SBA Members, but do not need to have obtained their Basic or Junior certificates.
The exams will be offered in Online and Written (exam centre) format. Online will require an open computer (work computers are often locked down). Exam centres will be set up in various geographic locations dependent on application numbers – you may have to travel.
Jackie Elliott ( Jackie@scientificbeekeeping.co.uk ) will administer the Online exams.
Alan Riach will administer the Written exams.
When applying, please state whether you require Online or Written.
The exam fee is £42
APPLY AND PAY ONLINE
or complete the Exam Application Form and send it with the fee to the Education Officer.

Practical Exams
2026-04-13 | Across Scotland
PRACTICAL EXAMS
Every year we run a series of practical exams in the summer months, where you can demonstrate your practical beekeeping skills and knowledge, and receive the recognition you deserve for all that you know and do!
There are different levels of practical exams, so if you’ve been keeping bees for a few years why not consider sitting our Basic Beekeeping Certificate (or Junior Beekeeper if under 16). For the more experienced beekeepers, we have our Intermediate and Apiarian certificates.
Information about each of these exams can be found by clicking on them or by visiting the Education pages on this website, click here.
To register and pay to sit an exam, please use the link provided in this Event listing or visit https://form.jotform.com/250404948495364
The deadline for registering to sit any of these exams is the 13th of April.

SBA Annual General Meeting
2026-04-25 10:30 - 16:00 | SRUC Craibstone Campus, SRUC Ferguson Building, Craibstone Estate, Aberdeen, AB21 9YA
NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE 2026 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM)
will be conducted in person at SRUC Ferguson Building, Craibstone Estate, Aberdeen, AB21 9YA
on SATURDAY 25th APRIL 2026 from 10.30 am to 1.00 pm
The formal meeting will be followed by lunch and an afternoon of talks, finishing at 4.00 pm
The Agenda for the day can be downloaded here.
MEMBERS SHOULD REGISTER THEIR ATTENDANCE BEFORE 12th of APRIL. Non-Members are welcome to join us for lunch and the afternoon program of talks.
To BOOK YOUR PLACE please click here or the link in this listing.
TRUSTEE NOMINATIONS
Any member wishing to propose resolutions for the AGM or nominations for the position of Trustee and/or Office Bearer should advise the General Secretary of these no later than noon on 28th March 2026. All resolutions and nominations must include the names of the Proposer and the Seconder.
Proposed resolutions should be set out in writing, giving sufficient detail to allow members to understand, judge, and ultimately vote on the matter at the AGM.
The Board may nominate for re-election Trustees and/or Office-Bearers whose tenure will expire at the 2026 AGM and who are eligible for election for a further term. In addition, the Board may nominate Trustees for election to vacant Office-Bearer positions.
The Board encourages further nominations of members to join the Board of Trustees. All nominations must include the signature of the nominee confirming her or his acceptance of the nomination. A nomination form can be downloaded here.
Trustees must be members of the SBA, agree to the Trustees Code of Conduct and must not be disqualified from being a charity trustee under the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005.
RESOLUTIONS
Resolutions to be voted on at the AGM will be emailed to all members and are available on the SBA website in the Members’ area. There are provisions for members who cannot attend the meeting to cast their votes by means of the General Secretary acting as proxy on their behalf. Proxy voting forms are available to download from the SBA website Members’ area, or on request from the General Secretary, from 10th April 2026. The deadline for submitting proxy voting forms is noon on 24th April 2026.
More information on proposing resolutions, making nominations, proxy voting, and the powers and responsibilities of Trustees are available from the General Secretary – secretary@scottishbeekeepers.org.uk

Wax Workshop
2026-05-02 09:45 - 16:00 | Cardrona Village Hall, Cardrona Way, Peebles, EH45 9LJ
WAX WORKSHOP
SATURDAY 2nd MAY
PEEBLES
Join us for a fun and informative one-day SBA WAX Workshop, to be held on Saturday 2nd May 2026 at Cardrona Village Hall, Cardrona, Peebles, EH45 9LD. The workshop will run from 9.45 am to 4 pm.
Delegates will get hands-on experience in the production of moulded candles, dipped candles, wired foundation, polish, moisturising cream, flowers, rolled candles, and wraps.
This would make a lovely gift or entertaining day out with family and friends.
Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided, but please bring a packed lunch and your own mug.
Cost
SBA Members: £65
Non-members: £75
The last date for applications is the 25th of April 2026.
Places are limited, so ensure you book early.

ApiScotia 2026
2026-05-22 16:00 - 2026-05-24 18:00 | Dumfries House, Near Cumnock, Ayrshire, KA18 2LN, United Kingdom
APISCOTIA 2026
This enjoyable weekend of beekeeping is for SBA members who hold the Basic Beekeeping Certiﬁcate, who have been keeping bees for a few years, and who are ready and willing to support novice beekeepers in their area to keep bees well. This is also an excellent weekend for those looking to work towards their Intermediate exam.
MEET, LEARN, SHARE
MEET
Join us at 4pm on Friday 22nd May for a tour of the Dumfries working farm. Followed at 5pm with a hands-on workshop, bring a sample of your bees for our workshop ‘Under the Microscope – Detecting Nosema’. This is free to attend and open to residential and non-residential participants, just remember to add it to your booking.
The Saturday and Sunday sees a full program of lectures, workshops and apiary practicals.
Make the most of your weekend by staying on site until Monday morning, when we have organised a guided tour of Dumfries House itself (only £17.50 and open to all delegates)
OR enrol in our Train the Trainers course, which is being held onsite on Monday with Margaret Murdin, NDB. This can be booked separately via the SBA Events page on the website, click here.
Sunday night accommodation in the bunkhouse is also available, again please add this to your booking.
LEARN
Our base for the weekend of the 22nd to 24th of May is the MacRobert Farming and Rural Skills Centre. We’ll split into groups and participate in several sessions each day, led by our excellent course tutors: Andy Watson, Graham Torrie, Ilona Shilliday, Malcolm Watson, Margaret Murdin NDB, Matthew Richardson, and Yvonne Davidson.
Across the 2 days the sessions will cover best practice in:
Resilient Beekeeping Queen Rearing
Grafting Techniques Breeding for Varroa Resistance
Local Bees & Drones Making a Cell Raising Colony
Engaging the Community Record Keeping
Introduction to Microscopy & Plant Anatomy
SHARE
Relax and get to know others on the course in the Tamar Manoukian Residential Centre when we all get together. With breakfast, lunch, and snacks included for everyone each day, you won’t go hungry.
OPTION 1: RESIDENTIAL, STAY ONSITE FOR THE WEEKEND
Are you ready for an adventure with friends? We’ve booked the on-site residential centre, aka The Bunkhouse, which comprises separate male and female dormitories with bunk beds for two to eight guests per room. With a variety of extra activities on offer this is the fun place to be.
Residential – Course fees, meals, accommodation on Friday & Saturday – £330
Make the most of your visit to this lovely estate by staying on site until Monday morning. Add Sunday night dinner, bed and breakfast for £120.
If bunk beds aren’t for you, there’s alternative accommodation in the surrounding areas and also camping and caravan sites. Just choose option 2, Non-Residential.
OPTION 2: NON-RESIDENTIAL, TRAVEL IN EACH DAY
There are plenty of places to stay in the surrounding area with Cumnock a 5min drive away, Kilmarnock and Ayr only 20min by car.
Non-Residential – Course fee incl. all training sessions, breakfast, lunch on Saturday & Sunday £230
Junior members who hold the Junior or Basic Beekeeper Certiﬁcates are eligible too. The course and accommodation fee for Juniors is £300 or £200 for non-residents. All Juniors must be accompanied by a paying adult.
BOOKINGS
Tickets are on sale now, please CLICK HERE to book your place. Spaces are limited!
You’ll need your SBA membership number and polo shirt size.

Train the Trainer Course
2026-05-25 | Dumfries House, Near Cumnock, Ayrshire, KA18 2LN, United Kingdom
SBA Train the Trainers Course
In order to enhance the quality of beekeeping courses and mentoring, tutors and mentors are now encouraged to attend the SBA’s Train the Trainer course.
A one-day Train the Trainer course will be held on Monday, 25th May 2026 at Dumfries House, Ayrshire, immediately after the ApiScotia practical beekeeping weekend at the same venue. So you can make a proper weekend of it!
We would encourage ApiScotia delegates and anyone looking to mentor beekeepers in their own associations to attend. To find out more about our ApiScotia weekend, please click here.
Margaret Murdin, NDB is the tutor for this Train the Trainer course.
The aims of this course are:

To help beekeeping tutors understand how adults learn
To help them deliver information more effectively
To enable them to pass on their beekeeping expertise to others so that their students become knowledgeable and competent beekeepers

The course fee is £75. Breakfast rolls and lunch will be provided.
If you are travelling from a distance, we have overnight accommodation available onsite at Dumfries House. We have booked the on-site residential centre, aka The Bunkhouse, which comprises separate male and female dormitories with bunk beds for two to eight guests per room.
For the Sunday night dinner, bed and breakfast, the cost is £120.
Course places are very limited so don’t delay book today!
BOOK YOUR PLACE
Participants who have attended a Train the Trainer course (or possess a professional teaching qualification) and have gained the Intermediate Module or Intermediate Practical certificates can apply for the SBA Beekeeping Trainer Certificate. Please contact the Education team for more information, education@scottishbeekeepers.org.uk

Royal Highland Show
2026-06-18 08:00 - 2026-06-21 17:00 | Ingliston, Edinburgh, Royal Highland Show Ground, Edinbugh, EH28 8NB, United Kingdom
Honey Tent at the Royal Highland Show
Join us on the 18th to 21st of June in the Honey Tent at this year’s Royal Highland Show.
Whether you’re a curious visitor or an experienced beekeeper, there’s something for everyone in this vibrant and educational space dedicated to the wonders of bees and beekeeping.
You can find out more about what happens in the Honey tent by clicking here
To find our more about the Royal Highland Show please visit
https://www.royalhighlandshow.org/
And we’re looking for volunteer stewards to help in the tent and engage with the many thousands of visitors who pop in each day. If you’ve got some knowledge and experience of honey bees and beekeeping, or have just started a beginner’s course then please do consider it.
To volunteer please complete our online registration form before the 17th MAY 2026, via the link below
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RHS26Volunteer
We look forward to seeing you there!
Thank you!

International Meeting of Young Beekeepers IMYB
2026-07-04 08:00 - 2026-07-08 17:00 | Belfast
Exciting News!
This year The International Meeting of Young Beekeepers, IMYB 2026 will be held just across the water in Belfast on the 4th to 8th of July! We hope to be able to send a Team from Scotland, so if you’re interested we’re waiting to hear from you at …
bron.wright@scottishbeekeepers.org.uk
Young Beekeepers need to be over 12 years old and under 18years at the date of the competition. They need to live in Scotland, be SBA members and have passed the SBA Basic Beekeeping or Young Beekeeper Certificate, or who will take either exam in the summer, or who hold a similar beekeeping qualification.
So please get in touch, but don’t leave it too late as we’ll be selecting Team Scotland soon!
If you’d like to support our young beekeepers at this competition and for future competitions and events, please consider donating today via the link below
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR YOUNG BEEKEEPERS
Many thanks and good luck!

Scottish National Honey Show 2026
2026-09-25 16:00 - 2026-09-26 09:00 | Loch Leven Community Campus, Muirs, Kinross, Perth and Kinross, KY13 8FQ, United Kingdom
Scottish National Honey Show 2026
Saturday, 26th September 2026
Loch Leven Community Campus, Kinross
Our annual honey show takes place this year at the same time as our annual convention in Kinross on the weekend of the 25th and 26th of September. With a variety of competition classes, there’s sure to be one to suit you!
Entry is free, so why not have a go, and you could be adding ‘Award Winning’ to your promotions!
Plus, this year we can offer prize monies with grateful thanks to The Wax Chandlers
To download the full schedule and rules, please click below
https://scottishbeekeepers.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SNHS-schedule-and-rules-2026.pdf
The Entry Form can be downloaded here
Staging of Exhibits: From 1600 hours – 1900 hours on Friday, 25th September 2026 and between 8am – 9am on Saturday, 26th September 2026
Judging starts at 9.30am on Saturday, 26th September 2026
No entry fee but there will be prizes and certificates for the following:-
First, Second, Third and, if appropriate, Very Highly Commended, Highly Commended and Commended.
There will also be certificates accompanying any trophies awarded.
Registration: Free entry by completing the entry form and returning it by email to enid.brown@scottishbeekeepers.org.uk before the closing date of Sunday, 20th September 2026
Entries will be accepted after 20th September and on the days of the conference, but there will be a £5 donation.

SBA Annual Beekeeping Convention
2026-09-25 19:00 - 2026-09-26 17:00 | Loch Leven Community Campus, Muirs, Kinross, Perth and Kinross, KY13 8FQ, United Kingdom
Scottish Beekeepers’ Association
ANNUAL CONVENTION 2026
FRIDAY 25TH SEPT & SATURDAY 26TH SEPT
Loch Leven Community Campus, Kinross
GUEST SPEAKERS INCLUDE
Norberto Garcia, from Argentina
Sean Stephenson, Master Beekeeper
On the Friday night, we are delighted to be hosting a fun and informative quiz and social evening, and this is open to delegates and non-delegates. Your Quiz Master for the night is Margaret Murdin, NDB.
Early bird tickets are only £30 for an adult and £15 for students/juniors.
This includes the Friday night entry, breakfast rolls and lunch on the Saturday.
For Friday night only the entry cost is £5.
The standard adult price after the 31st July 2026 is £35
To buy your tickets please visit
https://buytickets.at/sba/2089037
A WIDE SELECTION OF TRADE STANDS WILL ALSO BE PRESENT
The programme and talk topics will be available shortly.
It also incorporates the SCOTTISH NATIONAL HONEY SHOW
For the schedule please visit
https://scottishbeekeepers.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SNHS-schedule-and-rules-2026.pdf
And the entry form can be downloaded here
Honey Show entries can be staged on Friday 25th Sept from 4pm to 7pm and Sat morning from 8am to 9am, with judging beginning at 9.30am on Sat 26th Sept.
Local Accommodation List

Microscopy Exam
2026-10-03 09:30 - 13:00 | Strathbrock Community Centre, 189A Main Street, Broxburn, EH52 5LH, United Kingdom
SBA Microscopy Examination Module 9

This will be held in Strathbrock Community Centre, Broxburn EH52 5LH on Saturday 3rd October 2026
This examination lasts 3 hours and the candidate will need to provide suitable microscopes and equipment necessary to complete the examination. As of 2026, the Microscopy Certificate is required to enter the Scottish Apiarian Examination.
The candidate’s knowledge and skill will be put to the test through a series of practical tasks along with an oral examination.
Please study the Microscopy Syllabus (Issue April 2022) available on the SBA website at
SBA Services /Education /Microscopy https://scottishbeekeepers.org.uk/sba-services/education/
Applicants must be members of the SBA and have passed their Basic Beekeeping (BB) or Junior Beekeeper (JB) exam. It is also advisable that you should have attended an SBA 2-day microscopy workshop. Please can those who attended the Microscopy two-day Workshop in 2025 or earlier try for the exam. The exam fee is £75.
The exam will be administered by Dr Mark Barnett (Roslin Institute) mwbarnett@me.com
Please apply by 12th September 2026 either online
OR
By post, on an Exam Application form, link below to download the form
https://scottishbeekeepers.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Exam_Application_Form_Word_doc_Aug20215.pdf
and enclosing a cheque for £75 made out to the Scottish Beekeepers’ Association and send this to Mark Barnett, 8 Greenknowe Farm Cottages, Gordon, TD3 6LA.
You’ll need your SBA membership number and your BB or JB certificate number.
Applicants will receive an email acknowledgement by the 19th of September, if you have not heard by this date please contact Mark to ensure you are registered for the exam.
