Erskine

What Erskine does

Erskine is a Scottish charitable company limited by guarantee (Scottish Charity No. SC006609, Company No. SC174103) that provides specialist nursing, residential, and dementia care to ex-Service personnel and their families across Scotland. Founded in 1916 by Sir William Macewen as the Princess Louise Scottish Hospital for Limbless Sailors and Soldiers, the organisation operates two care homes (The Erskine Home in Bishopton, accommodating approximately 180 residents, and Erskine Edinburgh Home), a Veterans Village comprising 44 cottages, 5 Assisted Living Apartments, and 23 Transitional Supported Apartments in Bishopton, two Activity Centres (EVAC West in Bishopton and EVAC North in Forres, opened December 2024), a regional Home Support service, and a social enterprise (Scotland's Bravest Manufacturing Company). It serves over 1,300 veterans and their families annually and is led by Chief Executive Ian Cumming, a Wing Commander veteran, under the patronage of King Charles III.

Erskine's core services are delivered through directly employed care staff, supported by a portfolio of fundraising channels including individual donations, an annual campaign, community and challenge events (Kiltwalks, Burns Suppers, Military Balls, Golf Days), corporate partnerships (KubeNet, Bunzl, SP Energy Networks, Bristow Helicopters, McGill's, IslandSlice), trusts and foundation grants (MacRobert Trust, Officers' Association Scotland), legacy giving, the Erskine Veterans Lottery, and an online merchandise shop. Services are provided free at the point of use, with revenue drawn from voluntary income, grants, and likely statutory fees for care home residents. The organisation is not a technology company: no proprietary platforms are described, and in 2026 it outsourced its full IT estate to managed services provider KubeNet under a TUPE arrangement. Customer reach is Scotland-wide, with strategic emphasis on rural and northeast expansion via EVAC North, and operations are governed by a Board of Trustees chaired since 2026 by Andrew Cowan.

Name

Erskine

Legal name

Erskine Hospital

Website

https://erskine.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1916

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Erskine is a Scottish veterans charity, founded in 1916, operating two care homes, two Activity Centres, supported housing, and a Home Support service for ex-Service personnel and their families across Scotland, serving over 1,300 beneficiaries annually under Royal Patronage.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veterans Care and Support Services

NAICS

Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (623312), Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) (62311), Continuing Care Retirement Communities (623311), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Skilled Nursing Care Facilities (8051)

akta.pro primary industry

Large Campus / Multi-Building Assisted Living Communities (HLADABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

General Assisted Living Facilities (HLADABAA), Memory Care Units within Assisted Living Communities (HLADACAB), Nursing Homes (Non-SNF) (HLAFAFAC), Elder Services & Aging Support (BPAGAEAF), Veterans Affairs & Military Family Services (BPAIAHAL)

Keywords

• Veterans care services
• Nursing home care
• Dementia care services
• Supported housing accommodation
• Charitable fundraising programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Bishopton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Giving: Individual donors contribute directly to Erskine through one-time and recurring donations. The charity runs an annual fundraising campaign and maintains a Supporter Care team to manage donor relationships.
2. Fundraising Events: Erskine organizes and hosts fundraising events including quiz nights, Burns Suppers, Golf Days, Military Balls, and community events. These events generate ticket sales, sponsorship, and direct contributions.
3. Erskine Veterans Lottery: The charity operates a weekly lottery (lottery.erskine.org.uk) as an ongoing fundraising mechanism, offering participants the chance to win prizes while supporting the charity.
4. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorship: Corporate supporters sponsor events, provide in-kind support, and engage in CSR commitments including fundraising initiatives and staff volunteering days. Companies such as KubeNet provide both services and wider CSR support.
5. Trusts, Foundations and Grants: Erskine receives grants from charitable trusts and foundations including The MacRobert Trust (£50,000 for kitchen refurbishment) and Officers' Association Scotland (£10,000 for Welfare Rights Officer post). These are typically project-specific.
6. Legacies and Bequests: The charity actively promotes leaving a gift in a will as a form of long-term support, encouraging donors to include Erskine in their estate planning.
7. Merchandise and Online Shop: Erskine operates an online shop (shop.erskine.org.uk) selling merchandise, generating additional revenue while promoting the charity's brand.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Erskine provides nursing, residential, and dementia care for ex-Army, Navy, and RAF veterans and their spouses through two specialist care homes in Bishopton and Edinburgh. Alongside inpatient care, the organisation offers accommodation (44 cottages, 5 Assisted Living Apartments, 23 Transitional Supported Apartments in the Veterans Village), community programmes through two Activity Centres (EVAC West in Bishopton and EVAC North in Forres), and a regional Home Support service delivered in veterans' own homes across Scotland.

Product overview

Erskine Veterans Charity offers a comprehensive portfolio of care, accommodation, and support services for veterans in Scotland. The organization operates a continuum of care model comprising specialist care homes (nursing, residential, and dementia care), Activity Centres (EVAC West in Bishopton and EVAC North in Forres), Assisted Living Apartments, 44 cottages within the Veterans Village, Transitional Supported Accommodation, and Home Support services. Scotland's Bravest Manufacturing Company provides employment opportunities for veterans with disabilities. All services are coordinated through the Veterans Village in Bishopton and satellite facilities across Scotland, serving over 1,300 veterans and their families each year.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Care Homes (The Erskine Home Bishopton and Erskine Edinburgh Home) Two specialist care homes providing nursing care, residential care, and dementia care for veterans and their spouses. The Erskine Home in Bishopton accommodates around 180 residents; Erskine Edinburgh Home provides additional capacity.
• Erskine Veterans Activity Centre West (EVAC West) Activity centre located in the historic stable building at Bishopton, offering veterans and spouses opportunities to meet others with shared experiences, learn new skills, and access support services.
• Erskine Veterans Activity Centre North (EVAC North) Activity centre in Forres, Morayshire, providing counselling, massage therapy, financial advice, art therapy, gym facilities, and community dining to veterans in the northeast of Scotland.
• Assisted Living Apartments Five accommodation units in the Veterans Village providing supported independent living for elderly or disabled veterans and their spouses, with housekeeping, laundry, meals, and access to Activity Centre facilities.
• Veterans Village Cottages 44 one, two and three bedroom cottages within the Veterans Village providing accommodation for veterans and their families, with options for adaptation to maximise independence.
• Transitional Supported Accommodation (David Boyle Court) 23 David Boyle Court apartments supporting service leavers and veterans whose transition plans have been disrupted, providing safe accommodation for up to two years along with job skills training and support services.
• Home Support Service Experienced Erskine staff delivering care and support directly to veterans and their spouses in their own homes across Scotland, enabling them to remain independent.
• Scotland's Bravest Manufacturing Company Social enterprise providing employment and development opportunities for veterans and others with disabilities, delivering products and services in a supportive professional workplace.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,300 veterans and their families supported each year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• IslandSliceminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 May 2026IslandSlice, a Dumbarton-based veteran-founded rum brand, pledged ongoing support to Erskine through a portion of proceeds from rum sales. Sylvester Herman, a fourth-generation distiller and ex-serviceman who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, founded IslandSlice in 2016. The new Rum Punch blend was launched to strong demand across Scotland, with proceeds supporting Erskine's work with veterans and their families.
• KubeNetcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 April 2026KubeNet, a Glasgow-based managed IT services provider, was appointed following a competitive tender process to manage Erskine's full IT environment across all sites in Scotland. The partnership covers service desk support, infrastructure and network management, enhanced cybersecurity, and on-site engineering. All three of Erskine's internal IT staff transferred to KubeNet under TUPE regulations. Beyond IT services, KubeNet will support Erskine through wider CSR commitments including fundraising initiatives, staff volunteering days, and community engagement.
• Veterans GatewaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeterans Gateway is a free, confidential helpline and website putting veterans and their families in touch with the right support around the UK. Erskine is listed as a partner organisation within the Veterans Gateway network, contributing its expertise and services to the collaborative veteran support ecosystem.
• Richard InvInminorOthersRichard InvIn is listed as a partner organisation on Erskine's website. Details of the partnership arrangement are not specified in the available source material.
• Yamaha Motor EuropeminorOthersYamaha Motor Europe provided a care package of consumable items for Gordon Thornton's motorcycle as part of its support for his 7,000-mile challenge from Forres to Greece raising funds for Erskine and EVAC North.
• Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of GlasgowminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow produced a documentary, 'The Boy from Bute', celebrating the life and legacy of Sir William Macewen, the visionary surgeon and founder of Erskine (originally Princess Louise Scottish Hospital for Limbless Sailors and Soldiers). The film highlights Macewen's contribution to medicine and his commitment to caring for those who served.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SSAFA - the Armed Forces charity: Long-established UK Armed Forces charity providing practical, financial, and emotional support to serving personnel, veterans, and their families. Directly comparable to Erskine's mission, beneficiary base, and reliance on community-driven fundraising, though operating across the whole UK rather than Scotland only.
• Poppyscotland: Scottish arm of the Royal British Legion, providing support to veterans and their families across Scotland. Directly comparable to Erskine in geography, beneficiary base, and welfare/fundraising model, making it the most proximate peer in Scotland.

Broad incumbents

• Help for Heroes:
• Royal British Legion: The UK's largest Armed Forces charity, providing financial, social, and emotional support to serving personnel, veterans, and their families. Comparable to Erskine in beneficiary base (UK military veterans) and broad welfare remit, but operates at national scale with broader fundraising reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ErskineVeteransCharity
• Xx.com/ErskineCharity
• Instagraminstagram.com/erskineveterans
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/erskineveteranscharity

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 Erskine