How we spend our money
Income and expenditure
Our Corporate Plan indicates where our funding comes from and how we will spend it in the current financial year.
Income
Most of our funding comes from the Scottish Government and admission to our properties across Scotland. Find a full breakdown for our year 2024-25 below:
Income | Amount |
|---|---|
Government grant-in-aid | £69.3 million |
Charitable activities | £53.1 million |
Trading activities | £21.4 million |
Donations and other income | £0.8 million |
Total | £144.6 million |
Expenditure
The majority of our spending goes towards running our organisation and the estate.
Expenditure | Amount |
|---|---|
Raising funds | £17 million |
Charitable activities | £115.3 million |
Grants | £10 million |
Total | £142.3 million |
Further details of our income and expenditure can be found in our Annual Report and Financial Statements:
Annual Report 2024-25
A report on our performance and finances for the financial year to 31 March 2025.
Read moreFinancial disclosures
The Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 requires public bodies, including Historic Environment Scotland, to publish certain information relating to our expenditure.
We publish disclosures annually as part of our commitment to openness and transparency. The disclosures include statements on how we are:
Supporting the Scottish Government’s plan for Scotland to flourish through increased sustainable growth
Working to improve our own efficiency, effectiveness and economy as an organisation.
The disclosures also reflect our payments above £25,000 to companies and organisations who provide services to us as part of our work to protect, present and promote Scotland’s historic environment.
Statements on sustainable growth and efficiency
Annual statements on sustainable growth and efficiency
Read moreStatements of expenditure
Our public relations expenditure disclosures include internal staff time and amounts spent on publications and printing, conferences and exhibitions, advertising and other marketing.
It also includes expenditure on our commercial activities, which helped generate income of £72.5 million in 2024-25 as well as public engagement around our other work.
Overseas travel costs include cost covered by project funding by third parties.
Our financial year runs from 1 April to 31 March.
Statement of Expenditure 2024-25
Activity | Amount |
|---|---|
Public relations | £4,478,000 |
Overseas travel | £37,000 |
Hospitality & entertainment | £81,000 |
External consultancy | £153,000 |
Statement of Expenditure 2023-24
Activity | Amount |
|---|---|
Public relations | £3,951,000 |
Overseas travel | £43,000 |
Hospitality & entertainment | £74,000 |
External consultancy | £229,000 |
Statement of Expenditure 2023-24
Activity | Amount |
|---|---|
Public relations | £3,465,000 |
Overseas travel | £17,000 |
Hospitality & entertainment | £53,000 |
External consultancy | £211,000 |
Statement of Expenditure 2022-23
Statement of Expenditure | 2022-23 |
|---|---|
Public relations | £3,465,000 |
Overseas travel | £17,000 |
Hospitality & entertainment | £53,000 |
External consultancy | £211,000 |
Statement of Expenditure 2021-22
Statement of Expenditure | 2021-22 |
|---|---|
Public relations | £3,231,000 |
Overseas travel | £1,000 |
Hospitality & entertainment | £23,000 |
External consultancy | £81,000 |
Statement of Expenditure 2020-21
Statement of Expenditure | 2020-21 |
|---|---|
Public relations | £2,660,000 |
Overseas travel | £4,000 |
Hospitality & entertainment | £4,000 |
External consultancy | £144,000 |
Statement of Expenditure 2019-20
Statement of Expenditure | 2019-20 |
|---|---|
Public relations | £3,086,000 |
Overseas travel | £52,000 |
Hospitality & entertainment | £91,000 |
External consultancy | £304,000 |
Payments over £25,000
You can download details of payments amounting to more than £25,000 here.
Payments over £25,000 in 2024-25Renumeration in excess of £150,000
No employee received remuneration in excess of £150,000.
Senior staff salaries
In line with Scottish Government guidelines we publish the name, pay grade and salary of senior staff (equivalent to senior civil service grade 2 and above) on our website.
Our Chief Executive is in pay grade Band 2. Their annual salary is £145,000 - £150,000.
This information is correct as of 16 December 2025.
Further details on the Senior Management team salaries and pension benefits can be found in our 2024-25 Annual Report and Financial Statements.
More corporate information
Corporate informationAnnual 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.
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.
Heritage for All
Heritage for All is our corporate plan, defining how we will promote, celebrate, and enhance Scotland’s diverse historic environment.
