BEFS Bulletin 376: Manifesto, Elections and the Fast-Approaching Future
Get The Latest Built Environment News, Policy Developments, Publications & Consultations
BEFS News
As we approach the closing stages of the current Parliamentary cycle in Scotland, attention is turning towards the May 2026 elections. BEFS will be producing a 2026 Manifesto to articulate BEFS Member views on what they would like the next Scottish Government to do differently concerning built environment policy. Derek Rankine, BEFS Head of Policy and Strategy, shared a six month Manifesto development plan at last week’s Historic Environment Working Group (HEWG), following which the HEWG Chair, Ian Baxter, facilitated an initial consultation discussion on priority themes. A draft note of the HEWG session is online.
In the last bulletin, we reported that a new Historic Environment Scotland (HES) consultation will explore views on the long-term national strategy for heritage designation. BEFS and HES have now teamed up to offer two consultation events on the system used to provide legal recognition and protection for more than 55,000 historic sites across Scotland. Book your free place at an Edinburgh event on Thursday 19 June (12:30pm-4pm), or an online session on Monday 23 June (11am-12:30pm).
BEFS is contributing to two evidence sessions in the Scottish Parliament this week. On Tuesday, we spoke with the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee to inform its second annual progress review for the Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4). BEFS Director Hazel Johnson expanded on our response to the consultation, highlighting BEFS Member experiences with NPF4 in practice, and their views around capacity, complexity, interpretation and hierarchy.
On Wednesday morning, BEFS Director exchanged with the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee regarding a petition proposed by SAVE Britain’s Heritage. The petition, PE2105: Safeguard Scottish Listed Buildings at risk of unnecessary demolition, calls on the Scottish Government to provide enhanced policy guidance on minimum evidence requirements, and to mandate local authority engagement with conservation accredited engineers, in decision-making concerning potential demolition of Listed Buildings. BEFS produced a submission statement for the Committee. Watch the session here.
The Scottish Government announced last week that it will not be pursuing plans to establish a National Park in Galloway and South Ayrshire. In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, said the decision was taken after balancing support for the proposed third National Park in Scotland with significant opposition. The Minister reported that the Scottish Government will look at other ways of addressing local issues highlighted in the consultation.
A busy summer events season for the built environment includes the 2025 Architecture Fringe. Running from 6 to 22 June, the Fringe will deliver events across Scotland under the theme of reciprocity, and explore architecture’s evolving relationships with many aspects of human behaviour, culture, industry and the natural world, now and in the future. The full programme is here.
Parliamentary Questions & Answers
Please see our Link to Parliamentary Questions and Answers for recent questions regarding Net Zero strategy, decarbonisation, public enquiries and Creative Scotland review.
Consultations
Volunteer-involving heritage organisations survey
Historic Environment Scotland
Make Your Mark, a campaign to increase the number and diversity of heritage volunteers in Scotland, is running a survey with Volunteer Scotland and Our Past, Our Future, Scotland’s national strategy for the historic environment, to better understand volunteering in Scotland’s heritage sector. The survey is open to volunteer-involving heritage organisations and groups in Scotland and should be filled out by the person(s) who oversee the management/organisation of volunteers. Responses will inform what support is offered to volunteer-involving organisations, help advocate for needs within the sector, and help make heritage volunteering accessible, inclusive and enjoyable for everyone.
Closes 16 June 2025
Developing an Ecosystem Restoration Code for Scotland
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government is seeking views on developing an Ecosystem Restoration Code (ERC) for Scotland as a new high-integrity market mechanism to attract responsible private investment into nature restoration and biodiversity projects. This commitment, outlined in the 2024 Natural Capital Market Framework, is being delivered via a Scottish Government-NatureScot partnership project. An Engagement Paper has been published summarising the results of the Discovery Phase and setting out key issues to be explored during co-development with stakeholders. Responses to the survey will be analysed, alongside evidence from Engagement Phase events, to inform a series of recommendations for developing/writing the ERC during the later stages of this project.
Closes 29 June 2025
Skills Survey for Historic Environment Employers
Historic Environment Scotland
HES is seeking input from employers, sole traders and organisations in the heritage sector about skills needs, gaps, and training provision. The survey aims to monitor the skills health of the sector and inform planning for support programmes. This follow-up to the 2023 survey will help track trends and prioritise actions outlined in the Skills Investment Plan for the Historic Environment (SIP) published in April 2024. HES particularly wants to hear from those working in archaeology, heritage architecture, conservation, museums, traditional building skills, and related fields. Results will influence the direction of the SIP over the next four years.
Closes 30 June 2025
ECHOES Consultation
European Cloud for Heritage Open Science
The ECHOES project is building a shared digital space, the European Collaborative Cloud for Cultural Heritage (ECCCH), designed to support heritage professionals and researchers across Europe. To ensure this platform meets real-world needs, ECHOES has launched a consultation survey to better understand the priorities, challenges, and expectations of the cultural heritage community. The consultation is open to all cultural heritage stakeholders, including professionals, researchers, computer scientists/developers, umbrella organisations and institutions with a vested interest in the development and application of the Cultural Heritage Cloud.
Closes end of June 2025
Scotland’s protected historic places – consultation on a long-term strategy for heritage designation
Historic Environment Scotland
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is looking for your views on their strategy for how to identify and legally protect Scotland’s most important historic sites and places. Heritage designation is the system used to provide legal recognition and protection for historic sites across Scotland. More than 55,000 sites are currently protected in this way. The strategy sets out a long-term approach to delivering national-level heritage designations. HES is setting out their vision for designations in 2035, their mission, and priorities for the three-year period 2025-28. Download the strategy consultation paper.
Closes 1 July 2025
Clean Heat Market Mechanism: revisions ahead of Scheme Year 2 (2026/2027)
UK Government
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has launched a consultation on the heat pump credit target for Year 2 of the Clean Heat Market Mechanism. It also explores views on proposals to name the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) the sole certification scheme for the Clean Heat Market Mechanism. The consultation seeks views on setting a Year 2 heat pump target level within the proposed range of 8-10% of relevant boiler sales.
Closes 2 July 2025
Housing (Scotland) Bill
Scottish Government
This consultation seeks views on how powers within the Housing (Scotland) Bill could be used to exempt certain types of properties from rent control. It also looks into circumstances where rents could be increased above the level of the rent cap and scope for clarifying how joint tenancies in the private sector are ended. The Bill brings forward a package of reforms to help ensure people have a safe, secure and affordable place to live. It includes measures that provide a framework for a long-term system of rent control in Scotland. The consultation addresses three main areas: properties that should be exempt from rent control area restrictions; properties that should be subject to modified rent control area restrictions; and clarifying how joint tenancies in the private rented sector are ended.
Closes 18 July 2025
Draft Updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government is consulting on the draft updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy (SMP-OWE), which provides the spatial planning framework for the ScotWind and INTOG leasing rounds. The plan sets out an integrated framework for sustainable offshore wind development in Scottish waters, informed by the latest scientific evidence. It identifies opportunities and constraints while balancing the needs of communities, nature and other sea users. The consultation includes supporting assessments covering environmental, socio-economic, habitats regulation, nature conservation, sustainability and business regulatory impact. A series of engagement events are being held across Scotland and online to gather stakeholder input on this complex landscape of choices and trade-offs.
*NEW* Closes 22 August 2025
Rural Tourism in Scotland Survey
Historic Houses Scotland and Scottish Land & Estates
Member properties of Historic Houses Scotland and Scottish Land & Estates are invited to complete this survey to provide data for a major report on rural tourism in Scotland. The survey aims to gather evidence on the impact of rural tourism businesses on Scotland’s economy and address challenges and opportunities facing the sector. The report will feed into VisitScotland and the Scottish Government’s aims for growing tourism across Scotland in a sustainable way. The survey takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.
No closing date specified
ScotLand Futures
Scottish Land Commission
ScotLand Futures is a national initiative led by the Scottish Land Commission exploring what a fully reformed approach to land in Scotland could look like and how to make it happen. The initiative aims to think big, tackle challenges, provide certainty for the future, and find practical solutions to ensure land benefits everyone. The Scottish Land Commission wants to hear from people across Scotland, whether they live in a city, town, village or rural area, about what land reform means to them and what changes they want to see.
No closing date specified
Consultation Responses
Petition to Safeguard Scottish Listed Buildings at Risk of Unnecessary Demolition
BEFS produced a submission statement for the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee, in advance of BEFS Director Hazel Johnson’s appearance at an evidence session on 4 June concerning Petition PE2105, which calls on the calls on the Scottish Government to take specific actions to safeguard listed buildings from unnecessary demolition. (BEFS 02/06/25)
Strategic Guidance on Climate Change Duties for Public Bodies
BEFS contributed to a Scottish Government call for views on draft statutory guidance relating to Climate Change Duties for public bodies. In the response, BEFS articulated how the guidance could be strengthened with respect to multiple areas of the built environment, including doing more to progress retrofitting and circular economy aspirations, and to adapt and reuse built asset portfolios in the public sector. (BEFS 23/05/25)
Petitions
Submission from Mairi Gougeon on PE2089: Stop More National Parks in Scotland (Scot Parl 28/05/2025)
Submission from Mark Griffin MSP and Clerk’s note on PE2143: Introduce legislation to require all landlords to tackle damp and mould to specified standards (Scot Parl 04/06/2025)
Clerks note on PE2105: Safeguard Scottish Listed Buildings at risk of unnecessary demolition (Scot Parl 04/06/2025)
Clerks note on PE2095: Improve the public consultation processes for energy infrastructure projects (Scot Parl 04/06/2025)
News Releases
Launch of MGS-backed toolkit on queering historic houses (Museums Galleries Scotland 19/05/2025)
Historic England Launches Local Heritage Hub to Unlock Hidden Histories (Historic England 21/05/2025)
Mounting pressures from inflation, increasing costs and demand are exceeding the Scottish Government’s additional investment in Scotland’s councils (Audit Scotland 22/05/2025)
Scotland’s national architecture awards – eleven RIAS Awards winners revealed (RIAS 23/05/2025)
Culture Counts Appoints New Directors (Culture Counts 29/05/2025)
Publications
Market failure in heritage sector study published by Northern Ireland Department for Communities (Department for Communities 16/05/2025)
Scotland’s Carbon Budgets (Climate Change Committee 21/05/2025)
National Trust publishes research report on links between heritage and happiness (National Trust 24/05/2025)
Transforming social housing through decarbonisation: The challenges and opportunities in decarbonising at scale (CaCHE 29/05/2025)
Where does the word ‘tenement’ come from? John Gilbert’s book explores medieval origins (Whittles Publishing 29/05/2025)
Keeping history alive: Report on understanding the barriers to Gen Z engagement with heritage (Historic Houses 03/06/2025)
Scottish & UK: Governmental & Parliamentary Publications
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee Official Report and Minutes (Scot Parl 14/05/2025)
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee Official Report and Minutes (Scot Parl 15/05/2025)
Public asked to inform independent Review of Creative Scotland (Scot Gov 19/05/2025)
Climate Change Plan: monitoring report 2025 (Scot Gov 20/05/2025)
Planning appeals in Scotland (SPICe 20/05/2025)
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee Official Report and Minutes (Scot Parl 20/05/2025)
Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF): recommended projects 2014 to 2026 (Scot Gov 21/05/2025)
Scottish Government Annual Procurement Report 2023 – 2024 (Scot Gov 21/05/2025)
Fourth marshalled list of amendments and fourth grouping of amendments for the Housing (Scotland) Bill (Scot Parl 21/05/2025)
Carbon Neutral Islands: financing roadmap (Scot Gov 21/05/2025)
The Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (Group Relief and Sub-sale Development Relief Modifications) (Scotland) Order 2025 (UK Gov 21/05/2025)
Correspondence between the Environmental Rights Centre and the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee regarding the Planning and Infrastructure Bill legislative consent motion (Scot Parl 21/05/2025)
Low Carbon Fund: Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme projects (Scot Gov 22/05/2025)
Energy Security and Net Zero Committee. Retrofitting Homes for Net Zero Report (UK Gov 22/05/2025)
Annual report of the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee 2024-25 (Scot Parl 22/05/2025)
Legislative Consent Memorandum: delegated powers exercisable within devolved competence in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill (Scot Parl 22/05/2025)
National Planning Hub update: Chief Planner letter – May 2025 (Scot Gov 22/05/2025)
Affordable Housing Supply Programme (AHSP) – Deliverability Review (Scot Gov 22/05/2025)
Investing in community regeneration (Scot Gov 22/05/2025)
Scottish Economic Bulletin: May 2025 (Scot Gov 23/05/2025)
English Councils will get new powers to keep housebuilders on track to ensure they play their part to deliver 1.5 million homes. (UK Gov 25/05/2025)
Planning Reform Working Paper: Speeding Up Build Out (UK Gov 25/05/2025)
Sustainable Procurement Tools updated with new features and guidance (Scot Gov 27/05/2025)
Building and fire safety – ministerial working group: Grenfell inquiry phase 2 minutes: April 2025 (Scot Gov 28/05/2025)
Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill – clerks note (Scot Parl 28/05/2025)
Public Procurement Strategy for Scotland – two years on with new Key Performance Indicators (Scot Gov 28/05/2025)
Building Standards National Performance and Workforce for Verification Services Annual Report 2023-24 (Scot Gov 29/05/2025)
New National Park Decision (Scot Gov 29/05/2025)
£85 million to support arts and cultural organisations across the country, supporting vital repairs and upgrades (UK Gov 29/052025)
Letter from Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice on Housing (Scotland) Bill Stage 2 (Scot Parl 29/05/2025)
Report on the proposal for a National Park in Southwest Scotland – advice on natural heritage matters and advice to ministers (Scot Gov 29/05/2025)
Ministerial Statement on Galloway and Ayrshire National Park Proposal (Scot Gov 29/05/2025)
National Planning Framework 4 Annual Review – clerks note (Scot Parl 29/05/2025)
Strategic Housing Investment Plan Guidance 2025 MHDGN 2025/01 (Scot Gov 30/05/2025)
Draft Updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy consultation launched (Scot Gov 30/05/2025)
Scottish Biodiversity Strategy: Report to Parliament 2020-2024 (Scot Gov 30/05/2025)
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee annual report for 2024-25 (Scot Parl 30/05/2025)
Short-term Lets (Planning Permission) Bill presented to House of Commons (UK Parl 02/06/2025)
Planning reform and housing delivery. Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government written statement (UK Parl 02/06/2025)
Apprenticeships and Skills Training. Department for Education written statement (UK Parl 02/06/2025)
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee: Housing (Scotland) Bill Stage 2 (day 7) and NPF4 Annual Review evidence session (Scot Parl 03/06/2025)
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee: Land Reform (Scotland) Bill Stage 2 (day 1) (Scot Parl 03/06/2025)
Finance and Public Administration Committee: Cost-effectiveness of Scottish public inquiries – clerks note (Scot Parl 03/06/2025)
Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: Policy Memorandum, Financial Memorandum, Delegated Powers Memorandum and Explanatory Notes (Scot Parl 03/06/2025)
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee: Housing (Scotland) Bill Stage 2 scrutiny completed (Scot Parl 03/06/2025)
Economy and Fair Work Committee: Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill Stage 1 evidence session (Scot Parl 04/06/2025)
Opinion & Comment
Welsh Government outlines new priorities for culture with £7m for museum and heritage sectors (Museums Association 22/05/2025)
A new kind of gentrification is spreading through London; thanks to ‘placemaking’, thriving communities are hollowing out (The Guardian 26/05/2025)
‘What Nazis did to Warsaw’ The story of Glasgow’s tragic rise and fall (The Herald 01/06/2025)
IFS warns of “unavoidably tough choices” ahead of UK Spending Review on 11 June (BBC News 01/06/2025)
Scottish Labour MSP seeks 500ha cap in Land Reform Bill amendments (The Herald 01/06/2025)
‘If you damage heritage, you may end up with criminal record’ – Northern Ireland prosecutes over 100 damaged historic monuments (BBC News 02/06/2025)
5,000 English nature sites at risk under Labour’s planning proposals (The Guardian 03/06/2025)
Events
For further listings, please see BEFS events calendar
SURF – Awards Launch Event
Date & Time: Thursday 5 June 2025; 2-2:45pm
Location: Online via zoom
Join SURF to find out more about the 2025 SURF Awards process and the 5 Award categories. Attendees will hear from former SURF Award Winners with their top tips for a successful application. If you have ever considered entering (or re-entering) the Awards or want to know more about this year’s process and what is involved, or to hear directly from projects who have gone through the process, then this event is definitely for you. Find out more about the SURF Awards here and follow this link to book.
Architecture Fringe 2025: Reciprocity – Opening Party
Date & Time: Friday 6 June 2025; 6-9pm
Location: The Briggait, 72 Clyde Street, Glasgow G1 5HZ
The Briggait plays host to the opening party for this year’s Architecture Fringe. In celebration of a jam-packed two week-long festival programme come along to an evening of exhibitions, conversation, music and performance. Glasgow-based community brass band Brass, Aye? will be bringing some singing, dancing and carnival vibes. Award-winning independent choreographer and dance-maker Janice Parker will be responding to the space through dance and resident DJ at Scandal Glasgow BELLAROSA will be on the decks with a hypnotic set weaving together beats from across the globe. The Full Festival Programme for the Architecture Fringe 2025 has been made possible through the support of Creative Scotland Multi-Year Funding, Moxon Architects, Helen Lucas Architects, and Collective Architecture.
Under One Roof – Navigating Tenement Building Repairs for Landlords, with Dundee City Council
Date & Time: Tuesday 10 June 2025; 11am-12pm
Location: Online
Landlords in Dundee are invited to a free one-hour webinar to learn about basic tenement repair and maintenance. Topics covered include: understanding relevant legislation; the difference between individual, mutual and common repairs; and how to organise and pay for repairs with your co-owners and co-landlords.
IHBC – Annual School Shrewsbury. Heritage in Context: Value | Plan | Change
Date & Time: Thursday 12 – Saturday 14 June 2025
Location: Shrewsbury Theatre Severn, Frankwell, Shrewsbury SY3 8FT
Date & Time: Friday 13 June 2025; 9am-3:45pm
Location: Online
Join the IHBC for this year’s annual school in historic Shrewsbury, to explore the rich topic of ‘Heritage in Context’, and how context informs the way in which we understand, value, care for and change our historic environment. There will be a variety of opportunities to engage with the school, from the 3-day Full School which includes local tours and welcome reception for in person delegates, to the Friday Day School, available in person and online, and offering a fantastic programme of talks with expert speakers.
RIAS – BookshopLATES… The Expressway World
Date & Time: Wednesday 18 June 2025; 6:30-7:30pm (doors 6pm)
Location: RIAS Bookshop, 15 Rutland Square, Edinburgh EH1 2BE
Join Professor Richard J. Williams to discover the world of the urban expressway – how it came to be and what cities around the globe are doing to replace, reinvent and revitalise these monoliths of automobile-focused infrastructure. Richard will be in conversation with his colleague Dr. Sepideh Karami from Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.
The Cockburn Association – Campaigning For Edinburgh Book Launch
Date & Time: Thursday 19 June 2025; 7-9pm
Location: Laigh Hall, Faculty of Advocates, Parliament Square, Edinburgh EH1 1RF
Join The Cockburn Association for the launch of their new publication, Campaigning for Edinburgh. To mark the 150th anniversary of the Association in 2025, this publication outlines the many issues and campaigns in which the Association was involved. It reflects on Henry Cockburn’s legacy, who asked in 1849, “how will Edinburgh look in 1949, or 2049?”. The evening will include talks from the authors, an exhibit from the Faculty of Advocates’ collections on Lord Henry Cockburn, and a reception.
IHBC/RTPI – Finding the Balance: Built Heritage & Landscape Conservation in Development Planning
Date & Time: Friday 20 June 2025; 10am-4:15pm
Location: Dunkeld and Birnam
The neighbouring communities of Dunkeld and Birnam in Perthshire are locations for this training day. They benefit from multiple and overlapping heritage designations. This event will review the history of planning in Dunkeld and consider the challenges and opportunities facing today’s planners in allowing development while conserving their rich built heritage. Hosted by IHBC Scotland and RTPI Scottish Young Planners Network.
Under One Roof – Navigating Tenement Building Repairs for Landlords, with East Ayrshire Council
Date & Time: Tuesday 1 July 2025; 10-11am
Location: Online
Landlords in East Ayrshire are invited to a free one-hour webinar to learn about basic tenement repair and maintenance. Topics covered include: Understanding relevant legislation; understanding the Repairing Standard; the difference between individual, mutual and common repairs and; how to organise and pay for repairs with your co-owners and co-landlords.
Training
SPAB – Maintaining Scottish Churches
Date & Time: Wednesday 28 May 2025; 9:30am-3:45pm
Location: Lochgilphead Parish Church, Oban Road, Lochgilphead PA31 8NE
Are you involved in caring for and maintaining a place of worship in Scotland? Caring for a historic building can feel like a never-ending task, but thankfully there are some simple steps you can take to keep your building in good condition and reduce the likelihood of large repair projects further down the line. In this introductory one-day course, find out how historic faith building works and the practical steps you can take to look after it.
HES/Engine Shed – Level 3 Qualification in Energy Efficiency Measures in Older and Traditional Buildings
Dates & Times: Wednesday 28/Thursday 29 May; Wednesday 10/Thursday 11 September 2025
Location: The Engine Shed, Forthside Way, Stirling FK8 1QZ
This 2-day course is accredited by the National Open College Network (NOCN) and delivered by experts leading the way in energy efficiency for traditional and older buildings. The programme includes three modules: recognise the age, nature, and characteristics of older and traditional buildings; evaluate the appropriate options for introducing energy efficiency measures to older and traditional buildings; make recommendations and give advice on introducing energy efficiency measures to older and traditional buildings. The cost of this is £495 for the two days.
HES/Engine Shed – Introduction to Building Conservation Week
Date and Time: Monday 2-Friday 6 June 2025
Location: The Engine Shed, Forthside Way, Stirling FK8 1QZ
This 5-day intensive course will be delivered by Historic Environment Scotland conservation professionals at the Engine Shed in Stirling. Through a series of lectures, activities and site visits, this series of informative and enjoyable days will explore the traditional building skills and materials used in conservation and repair projects throughout the Scottish built environment. The cost of this is £495 for the full week or £110 per day.
Frew Conservation – Repairing Historic Buildings: Traditional Masonry & Joinery
Date & Time: Monday 9 June 2025; 9:30am-4:30pm
Location: The Stables, Falkland Estate, Falkland, Fife KY15 7AF
Join building conservation specialists Craig Frew, Darren McLean & Jamie Ryan for an engaging one-day seminar and workshop focused on the repair of traditional masonry and joinery in historic buildings. Key Topics Include: Stonework conservation and repair; stone cleaning and paint removal; lime mortars, harling and limewash; repair & upgrading of traditional windows and doors; paints and coatings for exterior timber This course is Recognised by the Institute for Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) for CPD.
Heritage Network – Carbon Literacy Training
Dates & Times: Monday 9 & 16 June 2025; 10am-12:30pm
Location: Online
Carbon Literacy is a keyway for organisations to gain an awareness of the causes and impacts of climate change and an understanding of carbon emissions. It provides a great foundation for individuals, teams, and organisations to begin to take steps towards reducing their carbon emissions and become more environmentally sustainable. As a sector, this training will help to collectively make a difference through taking responsibility and committing to lowering emissions. To become certified as Carbon Literate you must pledge to undertake an individual and group action that will help you and your organisation to achieve net zero. If you have any questions, please email Samya Kelly.
Planning Aid Scotland – Community Engagement Skills Training SP=EED
Dates & Times: Wednesday 18 June 2025; 10am-3:30pm (Edinburgh); Wednesday 1 October 2025; 10am-3:30pm (Glasgow)
Locations: The Crannie Community Hub, 9 Cranston Street, Edinburgh EH8 8BE & Edward House, 199 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3EX
Delivered by highly experienced trainers with over a decade of expertise in community engagement and training, these workshop offers practical, hands-on guidance using the SP=EED framework. This structured approach will give participants the confidence and tools to approach engagement with clarity and ease. The training focuses on key principles such as how to consult, engage and inform communities effectively. Whether you’re new to community engagement or looking to strengthen your existing skills, this training provides valuable insights and techniques.
Vacancies
East Lothian Council – Service Manager – Planning
Salary: £68,488 – £77,157 per annum
Status: Full-time; permanent
Location: Council HQ John Muir House Brewery Park Haddington EH41 3HA/ Hybrid working considered
A rare opportunity has arisen to manage and lead a high performing Planning Service. East Lothian is a beautiful and varied landscape stretching from the coastline to the north across the agricultural plain to the Lammermuir Hills to the south. It is also an area undergoing significant development. Based within the heart of the area at Haddington, this role offers the potential for great work / life balance, with the flexibility of hybrid working.
Applicants will need to have: outstanding organisational and communication skills; significant experience of working in the planning system at a senior level; an ability to work at a strategic level with senior colleagues from a wide range of partner organisations; sound knowledge of relevant key legislation and national guidance; and enthusiasm and commitment to high quality work and continuous service improvement.
Relevant Qualifications: Degree in town planning or equivalent discipline recognised by RTPI; Chartered membership of the RTPI; Relevant post-graduate qualifications; Continuing Professional Development evidence. A detailed job description can be found here. For further information go to the job listing here
This role requires Level 1 Disclosure Clearance to allow access to the Public Sector Network. ELC will submit a Police Act Disclosure application on behalf of the preferred candidate and receipt of the subsequent certificate will be required prior to commencement.
Closing date: Sunday 15 June 2025
National Trust for Scotland – Building Conservation Surveyor
Salary: £40,707- £53,128 per annum (dependent on experience and qualifications)
Status: Full-Time, Permanent (40 Hours Per Week)
Location: Broadstone Hub, 50 South Gyle Crescent, Edinburgh, EH12 9LD. Flexibility to include some working-at-home under Hybrid Working arrangements and requirement to attend sites regularly.
The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) are seeking a Building Conservation Surveyor. The Building Conservation Team delivers direct support to the regional management and operations teams, under the management and supervision of the Lead Conservation Surveyor and the Head of Building Conservation. Each Region is supported by a Building Conservation Surveyor and a Maintenance Surveyor, who between them support Trust property and conservation operations by delivering conservation maintenance activities to ensure that all buildings are fit for purpose, safe and welcoming for visitors, meet legislative standards of compliance and deliver the Trust’s charitable purposes. This role will be based in the Edinburgh and East Region of Scotland providing support to the regional team. A Building Conservation professional with at least 2 years’ post-qualification experience, you will be part of the team that supports the Trust’s operational regions in caring for and operating buildings. You will work with castles, cottages, museums, offices, bothies, residential and agricultural lets, and toilet blocks – old and new buildings are all part of the NTS portfolio. You will promote and deliver best practice in conservation, safe construction and maintenance management and support operational colleagues with guidance and advice. You will undertake surveys, diagnose defects, specify repairs, and manage projects to deliver conservation, improvement, repair, and maintenance works to the Trust’s built assets. Please see this link for more information on applications and the detailed job description.
Closing date: Sunday 22 June 2025
National Trust for Scotland – Conservation Maintenance Surveyor
Salary: – £40,707 – £44,847 per annum (dependent on experience and qualifications)
Status: Full-Time, Permanent (40 Hours Per Week)
Location: Highland and Island region, but potentially flexible on an informal basis under Hybrid Working arrangements and requirement to attend sites regularly.
The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) are seeking a Conservation Maintenance Surveyor. This role is located in the Highlands and Islands regional team. As the regional building maintenance specialist, you will work closely with the regional Building Surveyor to advise and support Operations Teams, putting the Trust’s Conservation Principles into practice through focusing on planned and reactive maintenance of all built structures. In this role, you will be instrumental in shaping the way the Trust manages the maintenance of its buildings, helping to build maintenance plans for each building and dealing with backlog maintenance projects. This job will support the National Trust for Scotland Strategy by contributing to improving the condition of buildings, delivering best practice in built heritage conservation and maintenance management, and supporting the safe operation of sites. Reporting directly to the National Maintenance Lead this role has responsibility for supporting and undertaking the planning and delivery of sensitive conservation, maintenance and repair to NTS buildings and advising property operations teams on all aspects of buildings care. The role also assists operations staff to maintain public access to sites and buildings during essential building work. You will have experience of working in maintenance planning and management or demonstrable understanding of maintenance management processes e.g. through similar experience or trade background or experience of working in a role caring for historic buildings. The Trust are interested in speaking to people from a range of professional building and trade backgrounds, and would be happy to advise you whether your qualifications suit their needs. Any enquiries should be forwarded to: workforus@nts.org.uk. Please see this link for more detailed information on applications and the detailed job application.
Closing date: Friday 20 June 2025
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