The Highland Council
The Highland Council is the statutory local government authority for the Highland council area of Scotland — the largest council area in the United Kingdom by geography — delivering education, housing, social care, roads, planning, and environmental services to approximately 235,000 residents across dispersed rural communities, funded through council tax, Scottish Government grants, and service fees.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersInverness, United Kingdom
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What The Highland Council does
The Highland Council is the statutory local government authority for the Highland council area of Scotland, established in 1996 under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 by merging the former Highland Regional Council and district councils. It is the largest local government area in the United Kingdom by geographic size, headquartered at Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, with a distributed network of 10+ service offices across Caithness, Sutherland, Ross-shire, Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, Lochaber, and Skye. The council employs between 5,001 and 10,000 staff and operates through three service clusters — People, Corporate, and Place — led by a Chief Executive and three Assistant Chief Executives.
The council delivers a comprehensive portfolio of statutory public services including education, council and social housing, adult and child social care, roads and transport, planning and building standards, waste management, environmental health, registration services, and economic development. Service delivery is supported by a unified Citizen Online Services Portal (highland.gov.uk) integrated with the Scottish Government's mygov.scot myaccount single sign-on, plus dedicated modules for fostering and adoption, the Highland Domestic Abuse Service, the motorhome and campervan scheme, and the My Highland Future employment initiative. The council maintains active digital engagement through Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Flickr, and the Engage Highland consultation platform.
The council is funded through three streams: Council Tax collected from residents and businesses, Scottish Government revenue support grants and other statutory funding, and transactional fees for planning applications, building warrants, licences, and permits. It operates as a public-sector entity without shareholders, accountable to locally elected councillors and the Scottish Government, and has no parent company. Strategic partnerships with NHS Highland, Skills Development Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the University of the Highlands and Islands, SSE, and multiple third-sector bodies underpin service delivery across health, skills, economic development, and domestic abuse support.
The Highland Council firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Highland Council
- Legal name
- The Highland Council
- Website
- https://highland.gov.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- The Highland Council is the statutory local government authority for the Highland council area of Scotland — the largest council area in the United Kingdom by geography — delivering education, housing, social care, roads, planning, and environmental services to approximately 235,000 residents across dispersed rural communities, funded through council tax, Scottish Government grants, and service fees.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Highland Council industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Local Government Public Services
- NAICS
- Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (9251), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (92512), Administration of Housing Programs (925110), Administration of Housing Programs (92511)
- SIC
- Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mayor/City Manager & General Administration (BPAIACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Municipal Tax & Revenue Administration (Local) (BPAIACAD), Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF), Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ), Local Education Authorities & Municipal Education Offices (EDADABAD), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)
Keywords
Where The Highland Council is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Inverness
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices11 records
Markets served
The Highland Council business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Council Tax: Local taxation collected from residents and businesses within the Highland Council area to fund public services.
- Government Funding: Central Scottish Government funding and grants to support local government operations and public services.
- Service Fees: Various fees collected for services including planning applications, building warrants, licensing, parking permits, and other council services.
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
The Highland Council product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Highland Council is a local government authority delivering statutory public services across the largest council area in the United Kingdom. Its core offering encompasses education, housing and homelessness services, social care, roads and transport, planning and building standards, waste and recycling, council tax administration, environmental health, registration of births/deaths/marriages, business licensing, and community development across dispersed rural and urban communities in the Scottish Highlands.
Product overview
The Highland Council operates as a local government authority providing citizen services through its website portal, which functions as a unified platform accessing multiple distinct service modules. The core offering includes online self-service for benefits, council tax, housing, planning, roads, and environmental services. Key service modules include: the main Citizen Online Services Portal; the Highland Domestic Abuse Service (HDAS) providing coordinated victim support; the Fostering and Adoption Service for child placement; Employment and Recruitment Services; Council and Social Housing across 10 local offices; Roads, Transport and Parking; Planning and Building Standards; Health and Social Care Services; Engage Highland consultation platform; Highland Council Bus Service; the Motorhome and Campervan Scheme; Recite Me accessibility toolbar; Education Maintenance Allowance; mygov.scot myaccount integration; My Highland Future employment initiative; Garage Rental Services; and Gaelic Services. These modules collectively serve the council's role in local government administration, social services, infrastructure, education, and community development across the Highland region.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Citizen Online Services Portal The main council website providing citizens with access to all council services including benefits, bins and recycling, council tax, housing applications, planning applications, road reports, and more through online self-service portals. Targeted at Highland residents and businesses.
- Council and Social Housing Service Housing services including council house applications, rent payments, repair requests, homeless support, and access to local housing teams across 10 office locations throughout Highland. Targeted at residents in housing need.
- Fostering and Adoption Service The Highland Council's service for fostering and adoption, providing temporary and permanent family-based placements with approved carers for children and young people, including kinship care, private fostering, and adoption services. Targeted at foster/adoptive families and children in care.
- Highland Domestic Abuse Service (HDAS)
Quantifiable outcome
- £850,000 annual food waste reduction targeted through schools meal service action plan
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Highland Council
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Highland Council technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability2 records
The Highland Council partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Inverness, Badenoch and Strathspey Citizens Advice BureaucoreAwarded contract for female domestic abuse outreach services as part of the Highland-wide Domestic Abuse Service (HDAS) from 1 July 2026. Joins existing HDAS partners including Caithness and Sutherland Women's Aid, Ross-shire Women's Aid, Lochaber Women's Aid, and Victim Support Scotland.
- Caithness and Sutherland Women's AidcoreJoined HDAS on 1 April 2026 to deliver domestic abuse support to women and children for North Highland as part of the unified Highland-wide Domestic Abuse Service.
- Ross-shire Women's AidcoreJoined HDAS on 1 April 2026 to deliver domestic abuse support to women and children for Mid Highland. Also provides refuge accommodation in Dingwall and Skye.
- Lochaber Women's AidcoreJoined HDAS on 1 April 2026 to deliver domestic abuse support to women and children for West Highland.
- Victim Support ScotlandcoreJoined HDAS on 1 April 2026 to deliver domestic abuse support to all men, trans women and men, and non-binary people for Highland.
- NHS HighlandcoreJoint partnership for health and social care integration. Partners collaborate on adult social care, mental health services, child protection, fostering and adoption services, and domestic abuse services. Highland Power of Attorney Month launched jointly in June 2026 to promote Power of Attorney awareness.
- Inverness Women's AidminorProvides refuge accommodation in Inverness. Did not submit tender application for Inverness South domestic abuse outreach contract. Contracts remain in place until 30 September 2026 during refuge services review.
- SSE (Scottish and Southern Energy)corePartnership to refurbish 18 empty homes in Wick, Caithness as part of SSE's £33bn strategic investment in northern Scotland electricity transmission networks. SSE is creating 600 jobs and has secured 25 of 34 major planning consents for grid reinforcement projects.
- NHS HighlandcoreFeatured partner for adult social care vacancies through the council's working for us employment pages.
- High Life HighlandminorFeatured partner for leisure services employment. Council offers Highlife Highland corporate membership as an employee benefit.
- Developing the Young Workforce (DYW)coreDYW partnership under My Highland Future workstream supports young people and adults to access apprenticeship routes and skills development qualifications.
- Work Life Highland PartnershipcorePartnership of public, private and third-sector organizations supporting people into sustainable, fair employment. Helps lift Highland residents out of poverty while enabling employers to access local talent.
- Skills Development ScotlandcorePartner in Workforce North collaboration with Highlands and Islands Enterprise, University of the Highlands and Islands, and Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport to promote co-investment in talent development.
- Highlands and Islands EnterprisecoreStrategic partner in Workforce North and economic development initiatives including My Highland Future and Invest Highland programs.
- University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI)corePartner in Workforce North collaboration for talent development and retention across the Highlands and Islands.
- Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green FreeportminorPartner in Workforce North initiative for green economy talent development and retention.
- Invest HighlandminorSupport service for businesses relocating to the Highland region, working with national and regional agencies to attract investment and foster inclusive growth.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Highland Council competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- City of Edinburgh Council: Largest Scottish local authority by population, with the same statutory remit but very different urban operating context. Useful benchmark for digital service delivery (mygov.scot) and large-scale social care operations.
- Glasgow City Council: Scotland's largest urban local authority with overlapping statutory services. Comparable in service breadth but contrasts sharply on rural-versus-urban delivery economics, scale of social care demand, and housing stock.
Direct peers
- Perth and Kinross Council: Mid-sized Scottish unitary authority with a mix of urban (Perth) and rural areas. Comparable scope of statutory services, similar governance structure, and similar exposure to council tax and central grant funding.
- Aberdeenshire Council: Another large Scottish local authority serving a predominantly rural geography in the northeast. Directly comparable as a multi-service unitary council covering education, housing, roads, social care, and planning across a dispersed population.
- Scottish Borders Council: Rural Scottish local authority of comparable scale and service breadth. Direct peer on funding structure, service delivery model, and the challenge of providing council services across a large, low-density geography.
- Argyll and Bute Council: Scottish local authority with a similar rural-coastal geography and challenges of dispersed service delivery. Comparable service portfolio across housing, education, social work, and roads, and similar funding model via Council Tax and Scottish Government grants.
Others
- Highlands and Islands Enterprise: Regional development agency covering the same geography as Highland Council. Partner organization on Workforce North, My Highland Future, and Invest Highland; comparable in economic development remit but distinct from statutory local authority functions.
- NHS Highland: Health board operating across the Highland region and the council's primary health and social care integration partner. Comparable geographic footprint and joint delivery of adult social care, fostering, and domestic abuse services via the Highland Health and Social Care Partnership.
- COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities): Representative body for all 32 Scottish councils. Indirectly comparable as the umbrella organization negotiating grant settlements, shared digital platforms (mygov.scot), and policy frameworks that Highland Council operates within.
Regional players
- Lake District National Park Authority: UK public authority responsible for planning, conservation, and visitor services across a major rural tourism geography. Comparable in scale of rural service delivery, planning authority role, and visitor infrastructure management but operates outside Scotland.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Highland Council social profiles
Digital presenceThe Highland Council compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
The Highland Council financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Highland Council leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
The Highland Council funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Highland Council M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Highland Council
What does The Highland Council do?
The Highland Council is a local government authority delivering statutory public services across the largest council area in the United Kingdom. Its core offering encompasses education, housing and homelessness services, social care, roads and transport, planning and building standards, waste and recycling, council tax administration, environmental health, registration of births/deaths/marriages, business licensing, and community development across dispersed rural and urban communities in the Scottish Highlands.
Is The Highland Council a public or private company?
The Highland Council is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was The Highland Council founded?
The Highland Council was founded in 1996. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is The Highland Council based?
The Highland Council is headquartered in Inverness, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Highland Council make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Council Tax is the primary driver. The others are government Funding and service Fees.
Who are The Highland Council's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are City of Edinburgh Council and Glasgow City Council. Direct peers are Perth and Kinross Council, Aberdeenshire Council, Scottish Borders Council and Argyll and Bute Council. Others are Highlands and Islands Enterprise, NHS Highland and COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities). Lake District National Park Authority is listed as a regional player.
Does The Highland Council have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Highland Council.
What industry is The Highland Council in?
The Highland Council's product category is Local Government Public Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIACAA, Mayor/City Manager & General Administration, with a secondary code of BPAIACAD, Municipal Tax & Revenue Administration (Local). Its NAICS code is 925 and its SIC code is 7340.