Scottish Crofting Federation

What Scottish Crofting Federation does

The Scottish Crofting Federation (SCF) is the only membership-based organisation in Scotland exclusively lobbying on behalf of crofters. Established in 1985 as the Scottish Crofters Union and registered as Scottish Charity No. SC031919, it is headquartered in Kyle of Lochalsh and operates with a small paid staff of approximately six (CEO, Membership and Finance Administrator, Outreach Coordinator, Administrative Assistant, Policy Coordinator, Communications Officer) supported by four volunteer board directors. SCF represents more than 12,000 crofting households covering approximately 25% of the Highlands and Islands landmass, with primary activity concentrated in the Highlands, Skye, the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland.

SCF's core technology is a proprietary Scottish Crofting Produce Mark certification and labelling system that authenticates produce from registered crofts, complemented by owned distribution channels including the Crofting Market and Crofting Holidays online directories, the quarterly Crofter magazine, the monthly Croftwork podcast, and an annual Gathering event. It runs paid and grant-funded training programmes (Crofting for the Future; Setting up a Local Food Business; Crofting Essentials) and maintains policy influence through the Cross Party Group on Crofting in the Scottish Parliament. Operations are supported by standard SaaS tooling: SheepCRM for membership, Ticket Tailor for events, and PayPal for donations.

Revenue is generated primarily through tiered annual membership subscriptions (Young Crofter £38, Individual £76, Joint £113, Associate £227), supplemented by donations, handbook and publication sales, training fees, and project grants from the Scottish Government (KTIF, Small Producer Pilot Fund), Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the EU, and trusts such as The MacRobert Trust and the Pebble Trust. SCF follows a community-led, advocacy-driven go-to-market anchored on policy representation, training and produce marketing for individual crofters and small crofting households across the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Name

Scottish Crofting Federation

Legal name

Scottish Crofting Federation

Website

https://crofting.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Scottish Crofting Federation is the only Scotland-wide membership organisation dedicated exclusively to lobbying for crofters, providing advocacy, training, publications and the Scottish Crofting Produce Mark certification to over 12,000 crofting households across the Highlands and Islands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Membership-based agricultural advocacy services

NAICS

Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry (115)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Welfare & Advocacy Organizations (AFAEALAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Animal Welfare Auditing, Compliance & Certification Services (Non-testing Lab) (AFAEALAN)

Keywords

• Crofting advocacy services
• Small-scale farming support
• Rural membership association
• Agricultural training programs
• Produce certification mark

Headquarters

HQ city

Kyle Of Lochalsh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from individual crofters, joint members, young crofters (under 41), and associate members. This is the primary revenue stream supporting the federation's advocacy and representation work.
2. Scottish Crofting Produce Mark: Revenue generated through the produce mark program that allows crofters to market their products under the SCP brand.
3. Publications Sales: Sale of publications including The Crofter magazine (included with membership), Highlands & Islands Woodlands Handbook, and Horticulture Handbook.
4. Training Programs: Revenue from training courses including Crofting Essentials and Setting up a Local Food Business programs. Some courses are free while others are paid workshops.
5. Donations: Voluntary donations from supporters to help safeguard and promote the rights, livelihoods and culture of crofters and their communities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

The Scottish Crofting Federation is a membership-based charitable organization that safeguards and promotes the rights, livelihoods and culture of crofters and their communities across the Scottish Highlands and Islands. It sells individual memberships, training programmes, handbooks, magazine subscriptions, and access to the Scottish Crofting Produce Mark certification, while engaging with government at local, national and international levels to influence rural development policy.

Product overview

SCF operates as a membership-based advocacy organization rather than a software product company. Its service portfolio comprises: membership with benefits (The Crofter magazine, legal consultations, newsletters), events (annual Gatherings, Young Crofters events), training programmes (crofting essentials and local food business setup), a marketplace for crofting produce and holidays, publications (The Crofter magazine, books including Highlands & Islands Woodlands Handbook and Horticulture Handbook), a podcast series (Croftwork), social crofting initiatives, and the Scottish Crofting Produce (SCP) Mark certification for members. These offerings are interconnected: membership funds advocacy work, training supports crofting livelihoods, the marketplace and SCP Mark help members sell produce, and publications disseminate knowledge.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SCF Membership Annual subscription providing crofters with advocacy representation, The Crofter magazine, monthly e-newsletters, free 30-minute solicitor consultation, members' support service, training opportunities, and access to croft tourism and produce marketing. Available in Young Crofter (£38/yr), Individual (£76/yr), Joint (£113/yr), and Associate (£227/yr) tiers.
• Scottish Crofting Produce Mark Quality certification mark allowing SCF members to market their croft produce under the unique Scottish Crofting Produce label. Covers lamb, mutton, beef, pork, fruit, vegetables, eggs, poultry, crafts, preserves, and honey from registered crofts, guaranteeing quality and authenticity.
• Setting up a Local Food Business Training Programme Comprehensive training programme taking crofters through setting up a local food business step-by-step, covering food regulations, local food hubs, meat box schemes, practicalities, pitfalls, rules and regulations, finances, support availability, and marketing.
• Crofting Essentials Training Training series following on from Crofting Basics, focusing on practical knowledge needed when starting a crofting journey including relevant organizations, available grants, payment claims, and related topics. Delivered through online evening workshops and two-day in-person courses across crofting counties.
• Crofting for the Future Training Programme Training programme delivered throughout crofting counties supported by 75% funding from Scottish Government's Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund (KTIF), focusing on the future of crofting practice.
• The Crofter Magazine SCF's official publication, issued multiple times yearly, containing crofting news, policy updates, practical advice, and community stories. Full members receive print copies; young crofter and overseas members receive digital editions.
• Croftwork Podcast Monthly podcast hosted by SCF Chief Executive Donna Smith and Eilidh Ross of Camus Consulting, featuring discussions with guests about crofting connection, future views, and proposed legal reforms to crofting legislation.
• Highlands & Islands Woodlands Handbook

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 12,000 crofting households represented (approximately 30,000 family members)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Newcastle UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023SCF is working with Newcastle University on the EU-funded Grass Ceiling Project (2023-2026), a programme for empowering women in sustainable agriculture and rural development.
• Queen Margaret UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership with Queen Margaret University and SASA (Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture) on the Crofters' Diversity Pays! project to test and develop new ideas for diversity and value in traditional crofting crops.
• Woodland Trust ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on The Croft Woodlands Project offering free advice and support to crofters for creating woodland and shelterbelts or improving native woodland management. Also partners on the Hedgerow Jelly biodiversity project.
• Forestry Commission ScotlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in The Croft Woodlands Project helping crofters with tree planting, hedges, and Forestry Grant Scheme applications.
• The MacRobert TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGenerous supporter of the SCF Young Crofter Award, providing sponsorship that enables recognition of outstanding young crofters each year.
• Pebble TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding sponsor for The Gathering 2025 event.
• GlenWyvis DistilleryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the drinks reception at The Gathering 2025 evening entertainment.
• PolycrubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor providing bursary funds for those who find the Gathering cost prohibitive, as well as event sponsorship.
• NFU Mutual Insurance SocietyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial sponsor and insurer of SCF members, providing insurance services to the crofting community.
• Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner for the Crofting Resources Programme and Crofting Resilience in Transition project, supporting capacity building in crofting communities.
• Scottish Natural Heritage (NatureScot)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Hedgerow Jelly biodiversity project and policy discussions on environmental issues affecting crofting.
• ACRA (Cooperazione Rurale in Africa e America Latina)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner in the EU-funded Hungry for Rights project focused on alternative food systems and short supply chains in crofting areas.
• Urgenci - International Network for Community Supported AgricultureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Hungry for Rights project, bringing international expertise on community-based food systems.
• Crofting CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegulatory body for crofting. SCF engages with the Commission on policy issues and new entrant support. Commission provides scrutiny of croft applications and regulates the crofting register.
• Kennedy AccountingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of The Gathering 2025.
• Caledonia DallasminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of The Gathering 2025.
• Camus ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of The Gathering 2025. Eilidh Ross from Camus Consulting co-hosts the Croftwork Podcast with SCF CEO Donna Smith.
• Harper MacleodminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLegal sponsor of The Gathering 2025.
• Munro and NobleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of The Gathering 2025.
• Tarrant RefrigerationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of The Gathering 2025.
• MISminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of The Gathering 2025.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• NFU Scotland: Scotland's largest general agricultural membership and lobbying body. Comparable to SCF as a membership-based advocacy organization representing farmers in Scotland, though NFU Scotland's mandate is broader (all agriculture) rather than focused on crofters specifically.
• Soil Association: UK-wide charity that certifies organic food and farming and advocates for sustainable agriculture. Comparable as a UK membership body that owns a quality certification mark (organic) for small producers and provides training, certification, and lobbying services.

Others

• NatureScot (Scottish Natural Heritage): Scotland's nature agency, a partner of SCF on biodiversity projects (e.g., Hedgerow Jelly). Comparable as a Scotland-based body engaging crofters on environmental policy and rural land-use — adjacent to but not competing with SCF.

Direct peers

• RSABI (Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution): Scottish charity providing emotional, practical, and financial support to people in Scottish agriculture. Comparable as a Scotland-based agricultural membership/advocacy charity supporting crofters and farmers with welfare services.
• Scottish Land & Estates: Membership organization representing rural land managers and estates in Scotland. Comparable as a Scotland-based rural advocacy body engaging with government on land use, agricultural policy, and rural development — overlapping with SCF's policy remit.
• Tenant Farmers Association: UK membership organization representing tenant farmers, structurally analogous to SCF as a small-scale advocacy body for a defined land-tenure group. Compares on lobbying, training, policy work, and member services for small-scale farmers.
• Rare Breeds Survival Trust: UK charity dedicated to conserving native livestock breeds, many of which are kept on Scottish crofts. Comparable as a membership-based advocacy organization supporting small-scale livestock keepers and engaging in certification, breed registration, and policy work.

Regional players

• Crofting Commission: Statutory regulator of crofting in Scotland, responsible for the Crofting Register and crofting applications. Adjacent comparable — both are core institutions in the Scottish crofting ecosystem, though the Commission is a regulator while SCF is a member-led advocate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ScotCroftingFed
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCCoCuoosCao88YF29G9ZD1g
• Facebookfacebook.com/ScottishCroftingFederation
• Instagraminstagram.com/scottishcroftingfederation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scottish-crofting-federation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Scottish Crofting Federation