News

Winners celebrated at Lantra Scotland's Learner of the Year Awards

General News

The talents of the country’s top land-based and aquaculture trainees and Modern Apprentices were celebrated last night (Thursday 7th March) at Lantra Scotland’s 17th Learner of the Year Awards. More than 250 guests, including finalists and their families, event supporters, employers, training providers and industry leaders, gathered at...

SLE responds following John Finnie MSP's comments on sporting rates

General News

Scottish Land & Estates has responded to comments made by John Finnie, Green MSP for Highlands & Islands, in an article published by The National on 23rd February 2019. Letter to John Finnie MSP: Dear Mr Finnie I write to you on behalf of SLE's Highland members following your comment on sporting rates in The National on Saturday 23...

New research to inform future planning policy across rural Scotland

General News

Savills’ planning team in Scotland and the research institute Inherit have together won a Scottish Government tender for research which will inform the future preparation of the National Planning Framework (NPF4). The project will be undertaken by Savills rural planning specialists, along with Inherit, which is a charity with expertise in...

Fresh debate on farming and land management support a welcome step forward

Press Release

Designing new support structures to enable a bright future for Scottish farming and land management are an immediate priority, Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) said today. The rural business organisation has welcomed today’s debate at Holyrood, led by the Scottish Conservatives, on future agriculture policy. Scottish Land & Estates...

SLE Appoints New Highland Regional Support Officer

Press Release

A new regional support officer has been appointed by Scottish Land & Estates to support and promote rural businesses in the Highlands. Megan Rowland has joined SLE with a wealth of knowledge and experience to utilise, including her ongoing work as a land manager on an estate in Sutherland. In 2018, Megan was the recipient of the Lantra...

Business Rates for small-scale hydro – An update on the legal challenge

General News

For the last five years, Alba Energy has been in a protracted dispute with the Tayside Assessor, in order to challenge the Rateable Values (RVs) ascribed to small hydro sites in Scotland. Alba and the BHA consider these valuations – from which business rates are calculated – to have been inappropriately high in the 2010 valuation roll and...

Wildlife Estates Scotland appoints new project officer

Press Release

A new project officer has been appointed by Wildlife Estates Scotland (WES) as the land management scheme aims to double its accredited acres. Caroline Pringle, an experienced environmental consultant, joins WES following five years at ITPEnergised, where she managed environmental impact assessments and due diligence projects for clients...

SLE responds to Balmoral sporting rates appeal

Press Release

Scottish Land & Estates has responded to coverage by The National regarding the Balmoral and Buccleuch sporting rates appeal. You can find a statement from Head of Policy, Katy Dickson below, along with a letter sent to The National by SLE Chairman, David Johnstone. Katy Dickson, Head of Policy at Scottish Land & Estates, said: “Rates...

Duke of Buccleuch steps down as Buccleuch chairman as group announces leadership changes

General News

Buccleuch announced today key changes to the group’s leadership and management. The Duke of Buccleuch has announced he is to step down as chairman of the group at the beginning of March shortly after his 65th birthday. He will be succeeded as executive chairman by Benny Higgins, former chief executive officer of Tesco Bank, who has been a...

SLE and farming stakeholders brief MSPs on Less Favoured Area Support Scheme payments

General News

The importance of Less Favoured Area (LFA) support for rural communities has been highlighted by a briefing issued to MSPs by farming organisations this week. Scottish Land & Estates - alongside NFU Scotland, the Scottish Beef Association, National Sheep Association Scotland, the Scottish Tenant Farmers’ Association and the Scottish...