Guidance on increasing Rural Estates' Contribution to Scotland's Wellbeing Economy
In this blog from Sarah Madden, our Policy Adviser (Rural Communities), find out what is next in store following the publication of research investigating the contribution of Estates to Scotland's Wellbeing Economy.
By now you may have read our ground breaking research investigating the contribution of Estates to Scotland's Wellbeing Economy, or even attended our launch event back in February, where the Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth welcomed the report.
If you haven't read the findings of the report yet, or would like some more information on the background of the approach, you can read more here.
The research is a decidedly fresh approach for the sector, and we may well be one of the first in Scotland to have begun measuring how our sector's economic activity contributes to wider wellbeing. This approach will be important in demonstrating the breadth of activites undertaken by diverse, modern estates and businesses, and will foster further constructive communication with policy makers. Ultimately, the sector must be recognised as a delivery partner in achieving our shared aims with the Scottish Government - using land to help achieve net-zero and enhance nature - and we hope this research can aid in this.
The above benefits, we hope, will be demonstrable from the publication of the report, but we must ensure that this approach can add value over the long term too. It's therefore important that we explore how we can increase this already important contribution to Scotland's National Outcomes. We want our members to lead the way in fostering the right conditions for rural Scotland to thrive both now and in the future.
So what's next? In addition to the research, BiGGAR Economics provided us with a guidance document, to help the sector and individual businesses consider how they can increase their contributions to aspects of the Wellbeing Economy. The guidance is by no means comprehensive or descriptive, but rather offers suggestions as a starting point that can help businesses begin to consider how they align with the wider 'wellbeing' concept, should they wish to do so.
The main report found estates to be major contributors to the Environment National Outcome, and found that they help sustain the wellbeing of future generations by protecting and enhancing Scotland's natural environment and supporting the rollout of renewables. The guidance document notes that four out of five estates are already actively engaged in conserving Scotland's natural environment, but prompts them to consider what more they could do. For example - you may already be engaged in sustainable agriculture forestry and deer management, but are you engaged with best practice and existing protocols around these? Could you do more habitat restoration or wildlife conservation, and are your staff familiar with the latest guidance and land management advice?
You're already doing everything you practicably can in terms of sustainable land use, but how do you measure up against the fair work and business outcome? Is there more you could do to ensure security of contract or increase staff satisfaction?
Each rural business is unique and faces its own challenges and opportunities, but the ambition to make a positive impact on local areas, staff and communities while enjoying business success is something that we can all get behind. It feels good to do good, after all.
We believe this is an exciting new approach for the sector, albeit in the very early stages, and look forward to working with members to help them understand how this approach can work for their business. However, the guidance document alone does not begin to address external factors that are taking their toll on businesses, like increased regulation and increasing costs. So while members continue to run their businesses and support their communities, Scottish Land & Estates will be advocating for them at the highest levels of government and promoting the fantastic work they do. Our annual Helping it Happen Awards is one way in which we promote our members, as the awards recognise the role of estates, farms, rural businesses and individuals who are helping rural Scotland thrive and contributing to the wider wellbeing of rural Scotland. You can find out more here and send us your submissions by Friday 30 June should you wish to enter!
At Scottish Land & Estates, we are committed to ensuring our members have access to be most up to date and accurate advice, so watch this space for more information on how landowning members can assess their own contributions, find practical guidance about how to increase it, and become a champion for wider wellbeing success!
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