Scotland’s Historic Environment Audit (SHEA) for 2015 has been published this month, underlining the clear importance of the historic environment to education, wellbeing and the economy.
Historic Scotland writes:
Scotland’s historic environment continues to make a valuable contribution to the nation’s wellbeing, cultural identity, education and economy according to the 2014 Scottish Historic Environment Audit (SHEA).
The SHEA report compiled by Historic Scotland provides both a broad overview and detailed insight into the country’s historic environment as well as outlining the direct and indirect economic benefits, investment levels and current condition of Scotland’s historic monuments and listed buildings. The report is structured around the strategic priorities of Scotland’s first strategy for the historic environment: Our Place in Time.
The audit is an ongoing project – last published in 2012 – which draws upon current data and research to provide facts and figures, which provide a health check for the nation’s heritage sector.
The report has been published in advance of the coming together of Historic Scotland and The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) later this year to form a new, lead heritage body, Historic Environment Scotland (HES).
The audit builds on the information provided in previous SHEA reports compiled in 2010 and 2012.
The 2014 key findings include:
- Historic Scotland invested £133million in the historic environment between 2002 and 2013 which assisted repairs worth over a total of £580million – benefiting communities across Scotland
- The historic environment is a major employer providing 2.5% of Scotland’s total employment and supporting around 60,000 jobs (including part time and seasonal employment)
- The sector contributes over £2.3 Billion annually to Scotland’s economy – 2.6% of the country’s Gross Value Added (GVA)
- Around 14 million tourists visited historic attractions in 2012, representing almost a third (29 per cent) of recorded visits to Scottish attractions
- Scotland’s international reputation for tourism and heritage remains strong with the Nations Brand Index (2012) placing the country 12th out of 50 countries for historic buildings and monuments and 13th for tourism
- Investment from other bodies such as the Heritage Lottery Fund, National Trust for Scotland, local authorities and the third sector continues to be considerable. However private investment is the largest source of funding –accounting for the majority (61%) of spend on the historic environment
- Educational interest in our heritage and historic environment continues to be strong with around 1 in 5 (19 per cent) of all school visits in 2012 involving a visit to a historic site, with over 105,000 learners accessing Historic Scotland properties under the free educational visit scheme in 2013/14
Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop said: ‘The contribution which the historic environment makes to Scotland’s economy, society, education and identity is clear from this report. 2015 is a significant year for Scotland’s heritage sector with the establishment of a new body, Historic Environment Scotland (HES), which will work with partners to deliver Scotland’s first strategy for the historic environment, Our Place in Time. As this valuable audit illustrates, Scotland’s heritage sector operates across a diverse and multi layered landscape, which delivers a host of tangible benefits. These range from bringing historic properties in communities up and down the country back into re-use, through to the continued appeal of our internationally known heritage attractions which provide a shop window for the many millions of people who visit our country each year. I am sure that with the establishment of HES, those with a shared passion and commitment for Scotland’s heritage will be well placed to come together to continue to make a significant contribution to its present, whilst looking ahead to its future.’
New documents which have been released since the previous SHEA include:
- People, Culture and Heritage in Scotland – Topic Report on results from the 2013 Scottish Household Survey
- 2014 Nation Brands Index
IHBC NewsBlogs on other ‘heritage counts’ style publications providing data about the value of the historic environment
