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Heritage Partnerships Strengthened
New funding and collaboration to secure Scotland’s historic environment future
Leaders from across Scotland’s heritage sector have come together in Glasgow to reaffirm the importance of partnership working in shaping the future of the country’s historic environment.
The gathering at the Scottish Historic Environment Forum (SHEF) 2026 marked a significant moment for the sector, coming three years after the launch of Our Past, Our Future, Scotland’s national strategy for the historic environment. The event highlighted how collaborative approaches are increasingly central to delivering the strategy’s ambitions across communities, economies and landscapes.
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) used the occasion to announce nearly £4.5 million in funding through its Partnership Fund, supporting eight organisations to expand programmes and strengthen long-term national impact. Established in 2021, the fund is designed to enable organisations to deliver outcomes at scale while building capacity for sustained change.
The announcement underscores a growing recognition that Scotland’s heritage cannot be safeguarded by individual organisations working in isolation. Instead, a networked approach—combining shared investment, expertise and leadership—is now driving progress across the sector.
Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic, Màiri McAllan MSP, emphasised the wider importance of heritage to Scotland’s future. She said:
“Scotland’s historic environment shapes our identity, strengthens our communities and drives economic opportunity across the country. It is central to so much of what our Government seeks to achieve for Scotland, for our people, our economy, and our environment.”
She also pointed to the enduring value of heritage in a fast-changing world, adding:
“The historic environment also reminds us… that thoughtfulness, resilience and endurance matter.”
For rural communities, the emphasis on partnership working has particular significance. Many heritage assets are located in rural and island areas, where collaboration between community groups, third-sector organisations and public bodies is often essential to sustain buildings, landscapes and local traditions. Funding streams such as the HES Partnership Fund can help unlock activity that brings redundant buildings back into use, supports tourism, and contributes to local wellbeing and economic resilience.
The Our Past, Our Future strategy places collaboration at its core, recognising that heritage plays a vital role in transitioning to net zero, empowering communities, and supporting a wellbeing economy. These priorities are highly relevant for rural Scotland, where heritage-led regeneration can help retain population, attract visitors and create new opportunities rooted in local identity.
The SHEF 2026 event also provided a platform to reflect on progress so far and to align priorities for the years ahead. With new Scottish Government priorities emerging following the recent election, the forum offered an opportunity to share learning, address challenges and renew collective ambition.
Across Scotland, examples of partnership-led activity are already demonstrating tangible benefits. Previous rounds of Partnership Fund investment have supported community engagement, skills development, and the sustainable reuse of historic buildings for housing, workspaces and community facilities. These initiatives not only conserve heritage assets but also deliver social and economic value at a local level.
The latest funding announcement builds on this momentum, reinforcing the importance of long-term collaboration in securing the future of Scotland’s historic environment. By supporting organisations that operate at national scale while working closely with local communities, the sector aims to create a more resilient and inclusive approach to heritage management.
As Scotland moves forward, the message from SHEF 2026 is clear: partnerships will be critical to ensuring that the country’s rich and diverse heritage continues to benefit people and places – particularly in rural areas – for generations to come.
The HES Grants Funding Report 2025-26, published this week, provides further detail on how targeted investment supports efforts to effect long-term change, and contributes to the success of Our Past, Our Future. More information on Our Past, Our Future can be found on the strategy’s website.
Article picture: Tantallon Castle, managed by Historic Environment Scotland (picture by A Robertson)
