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Rural Communities

The Contribution of Rural Estates to Scotland's Wellbeing Economy

Our recently published research The Contribution of Rural Estates to Scotland's Wellbeing Economy has found Report coverthat estates play a vital role in promoting wider wellbeing in rural Scotland.

The economic impact of rural businesses is generally well understood, with many businesses and sectors undertaking these assessments as a matter of routine using well established economic multipliers and metrics. However with the Scottish Government increasingly valuing a 'Wellbeing Economy' approach, it is important that we also begin to consider our sector's impact in terms wider than traditional economics. 

This who live and work in the rural business sector are familiar with what the sector offers rural Scotland, but this is less understood amongst policy makers and the wider public, so as a sector we need to speak their language. This is why we commissioned BiGGAR Economics to undertake this extensive research, investigating the land based business contributions to Scotland's National Outcomes and therefore the wider Wellbeing Economy. 

What is the Wellbeing Economy anyway?

A wellbeing economy is described as an economic system operating within sustainable environmental limits, that first and foremost serves the collective wellbeing of current and future generations. 

The Scottish Government has set 11 National Outcomes to measure progress towards a wellbeing economy, and this report has shows than estates contribute to at least seven of these outcomes. 

Findings

Conducted by leading economic consultancy BiGGAR Economics, the research finds estates:

  • Provide homes for 13,000 families and land for 14,000 rural enterprises.
  • Attract an estimated 5.4 million Scottish residents annually to enjoy the natural environment.
  • Account for approximately 58% of Scotland’s renewable energy generating capacity.
  • Make a substantial contribution to Scotland’s natural capital base through agricultural, forestry and renewable energy operations
  • Are important for carbon sequestration potential and nature-based tourism
  • Generate an estimated £2.4 billion GVA/year for the Scottish economy and support around 57,300 jobs – around 1 in 10 rural jobs.

Download the report

Download the executive summary 

Community Engagement

As key decision makers SLE members are crucial to helping deliver sustainable rural communities right across Scotland.

Rural Comm

Given the important role that land-based businesses play in rural areas it is vital that community engagement standards remain as high as possible to ensure that mutually beneficial solutions can be realised.

Recognising, as we do, that communities can benefit socially, environmentally and economically from effective engagement, SLE created a community engagement programme based on the “Working Together for Sustainable Estate Communities” booklet. This explored the potential of collaborative initiatives between privately owned rural estates, rural communities and other partners in Scotland.

If estates and communities and agencies and government come together, then I think that is where the big things will happen … and no matter who owns the land, or who is going to benefit from it … let’s work together and improve things, where we will all benefit in some way.

Community Development Worker (Glass et al., 2012:13)

As the policy landscape changes, SLE continues to work to improve and maintain standards in community engagement across its membership. We are working closely with the Scottish Land Commission and other stakeholders to set out best practice and encourage a “culture change” that reflects the aims of the Guidance on Engaging Communities in Decisions Relating to Land and the Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement.