Leys Estate is the historical home of the Burnett of Leys family and has been within the ownership of the family since 1323. As well as traditional rural activities, Leys Estate provides land and buildings for a diverse range of over 150 independent local businesses, community organizations, and charitable organizations in addition to operating a number of Group businesses. During 2023, Leys Estate will be marking its 700th anniversary of positive contribution to the Crathes and Banchory area through a number of events and initiatives and setting out its commitment to ensuring a positive legacy remains for the next chapter.
Throughout the past 700 years, Leys Estate Group has continued to develop, innovate, and evolve to ensure it can stand the test of time, while keeping the development and enhancement of the local economy, community, and people at its core. Each year the Leys Estate infrastructure supports a large number of new enterprises as well as providing valuable opportunities for existing businesses to grow; an aspect of the Group which both the Burnett family and Board members are passionate about. Leys Estate enables community groups by providing vital community spaces for athletics, rugby, football, and golf, holding outdoor events and taking part in dance, fitness, outdoor recreation, and horse riding whilst also providing allotments, forest schools, and safe routes to school. The Burnett family is committed to ensuring these spaces remain available and accessible to all members of the local community. Creating clear messaging and rebranding the business has been key in terms of overcoming misconceptions about the Estate and its dedication to the local area. The formation of a strategic business plan has streamlined the operation of the estate and helped to ensure that the business remains profitable and progressive, with the implementation of key values and beliefs that keep the community at the heart of every decision. Bringing the family and management team together to deliver the plan is vital to ensuring the document is reflective of the modern establishment which Leys Estate has become in its 700-year custodianship.
Creating a positive impact in the local community has been a long-standing goal of the Burnett family, but has been a particular focus during recent challenging times. The Estate currently has over 130 commercial leases, 65 residential tenanted properties, and 16 agricultural tenancies in addition to managing 8,000 acres of countryside providing recreation and natural space for the community to use. A key element is providing affordable business space for local craft enterprises to tourism businesses, restaurants, and manufacturing, and supported business space for 5 charitable organizations which are based on the estate. Leys Estate is home to a number of multigenerational farming families who have built their farming businesses over the years. Supporting the agricultural sector is key and the estate is committed to encouraging progression and diversity in farming our farming community. The Estate directly employs 38 people, with 60% of those employees residing in the immediate community. This includes a Ukrainian couple who are now employed by and live on the Estate with their family and dog following a chance conversation at the Leys Estate stand at Banchory Agricultural Show. In recent years, the Estate has re-purposed an agricultural field to become a hugely popular community events field which hosts monthly markets, the Grampian Forest Rally, steam and vintage vehicle rallies, horse and dog shows, an annual caravan club, the circus and occasional battle re-enactment! The Estate also sponsors the Banchory Cricket Club, Deeside Rugby, and the Banchory Pipe Band amongst other local causes.
The development of a Strategic Plan has set the estate on a progressive trajectory which encourages innovation and forward thinking within the business. As part of the Strategic Plan, they have introduced specific action plans for ‘Education and Communication’, ‘Renewables and Sustainability’, and ‘Land Use, Environment and Biodiversity’, all with key measurable targets to be delivered over the strategic plan period. The fundamental need and benefit of promoting a sustainable local community, a sustainable local economy, and a sustainable local environment are understood, and the importance of how they all interlink is recognized. After consultation with the Burnett Family and Leys Estate Group team, their strategic plan also defines what they see as their culture and values and how these interlink with their beliefs, behaviors, attitudes, and work practices. The Leys Estate Group Vision is of a progressive and integrated system of land and property ownership, use, and management that delivers a wide range of benefits to its owners, tenants, neighbours, and the local community whilst protecting the environmental, social, cultural, historical, and economic attributes of the land and property and surrounding area and educating the future.
Find out more about the finalists for the Helping it Happen Awards 2023