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A vision for everyone

Scotland’s historic environment is an invaluable national asset and is central to our country’s story. The historic environment provides us with connections to our past, to each other today, and to future generations to come.  

At Historic Environment Scotland, we want the historic environment to make a real difference to people’s lives. A difference to our health, to our economy, to our culture, to our environment. We want heritage to involve everyone so that we all benefit. 

Heritage for All is our vision for our organisation from 2025 onwards.

Heritage For All: Corporate Plan 2025-28

31 March 2025

Our vision is Heritage For All. This document set out the path we will follow to reach this vision

Read more
Man and two children in grassy area in front of Dumbarton Castle
Sunlight shining on a castle in front of a loch, lighting it up in golden hues with a dark mountain looming large behind it
Rope‑access conservator in orange protective clothing and a safety helmet suspended on ropes beside the stone wall of Mousa Broch, with the rocky shoreline and sea visible in the background.

Our Priorities and Outcomes for 2025-28

Scotland's heritage

Scotland’s historic environment is a unique resource. But only by caring for it properly can we ensure its benefits are felt by as many people as possible.

Skills and learning

Our work supports people to learn new skills, find new careers, and to build connections, no matter where they live or where they are in life.

People and places

The historic environment sits at the heart of Scotland’s communities. It provides homes, schools, hospitals, visitor attractions, places of worship, and sites of industry.

Climate action

The historic environment can, and must, be central to Scotland’s route to net zero.

Our organisation

To realise our ambitions and provide leadership to our sector, our organisation needs to be fit for purpose and fit for the future.

A team install solar panels on top of a castle-like building on a sunny day
Three HES employees survey ruins of World War Two defenses in front of dramatic Highland scenery.
A man wearing an orange glove uses a fine tool to clean a stained glass window on a workbench

Delivering our plan

Our operating plan details how – and what – we will deliver to achieve our vision of Heritage For All.
Read our operating plan
A friendly staff member in an Edinburgh Castle fleece inside the great hall

More corporate information

Corporate information

Annual plans and reports

Our operating plans provide the link between the day-to-day business of the organisation and the corporate plan. Our annual reports measure what we do.

Schemes of delegation and framework

Our schemes of delegation and framework set out our functions, purpose and relationship to the Scottish Government.

How we spend our money

Find out how we spend our money, from awards and grants to our planned expenditure.

Procurement

Key information on doing business with us, from procurement rules to using the Public Contracts Scotland portal.

Our brands and brand licensing

Information about our brand family and how you can license our brands.

Communications and media

Find out about the work of our communications office, follow our channels or get in touch with a media enquiry.