Tiree Community Development Trust

What Tiree Community Development Trust does

Tiree Community Development Trust (Tiree CDT), also known in Gàidhlig as Urras Thiriodh, is a community-owned development trust founded in 2006 on the island of Tiree in the Scottish Inner Hebrides. It is structured as a company limited by guarantee and registered Scottish charity (SC037018), governed by a board of elected directors who must all be residents of Tiree, and operates as the parent of four wholly-owned subsidiaries: Tiree Renewable Energy Ltd (TREL), Tiree Community Enterprise Ltd (TCEL), Tiree Community Maritime Assets Ltd (TCMAL), and Tiree Broadband. The Trust serves approximately 770-800 permanent residents and seasonal visitors, providing essential services that private markets cannot viably supply on a remote island.

The Trust's primary revenue-generating asset is Tilley, a 900kW Enercon E44 wind turbine installed at Ruaig Sliabh in 2006 and operated by TREL, which has generated well over £1 million cumulatively for the Tiree economy through net cash donations to the Trust after debt service (the £1.2m Co-op Bank loan was repaid in August 2022). TCEL, opened in 2024, operates the community fuel station (currently £1.812/L petrol, £1.956/L diesel, 55p/kW EV) and four business units providing commercial workspace. TCMAL owns and operates Scarinish Harbour, Milton Harbour, and 12 yacht moorings. Tiree Broadband (Bann-leathann) uses shortwave radio dishes to distribute connectivity, though it is scheduled to close on 1 June 2026. Additional services include croft camping across ~14 sites at £15/pitch/night, youth activities, the Tiree Ranger Service (Nàdair Thiriodh), housing, childcare, Gàidhlig language development, and a Windfall Fund grant programme.

The Trust's business model is community-led development rather than commercial: revenue from energy, fuel, harbour, and rental operations is reinvested in community projects, supplemented by grant funding from Big Lottery Fund, NatureScot, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), the Scottish Government, and Argyll and Bute Council. Approximately 11 staff execute operations across CEO (Phyl Meyer), Head of Projects (Emmie Martin), General Manager (Andrew Wright), Finance/HR, Ranger, Youth Activities, and project officer functions. Distribution is direct to island residents and visitors through subsidiary-operated channels, with no digital self-serve layer beyond email-based croft camping bookings.

Name

Tiree Community Development Trust

Legal name

Tiree Community Development Trust

Website

https://tireetrust.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Tiree Community Development Trust is a community-owned charity and company limited by guarantee on the Scottish island of Tiree, operating four subsidiaries that deliver renewable energy, fuel, harbour, broadband, and community services to approximately 770-800 island residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340), Real Estate Operators (No Developers) & Lessors (6510)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC), Land Use, Indigenous & Community Engagement Policy (EUAMANAL)

Keywords

• Community development services
• Renewable energy generation
• Community broadband services
• Harbour management
• Fuel station operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Scotland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Wind Turbine Revenue: Tilley wind turbine generates electricity revenue. TREL transfers all available net cash as a donation to the Trust after paying overheads and loan repayments. The Trust invests this in community projects. Turbine has generated well over £1 million for the Tiree economy.
2. Fuel Station Sales: TCEL operates the community fuel station providing petrol and diesel to island residents.
3. Croft Camping Fees: Croft sites charged at £15 per pitch per night with maximum 3 pitches per site. All fees go directly to site owners supporting traditional crofting way of life.
4. Harbour and Mooring Fees: TCMAL owns and operates Scarinish Harbour, Milton Harbour, and 12 moorings for visiting yachts, generating revenue from maritime services.
5. Business Units: TCEL operates 4 business units which opened in 2024, providing commercial workspace on the island.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Tiree Community Development Trust operates a community-owned development organization on the Scottish island of Tiree, delivering essential services through four wholly-owned subsidiaries: renewable energy (TREL operating the 900kW Tilley wind turbine), fuel station and business units (TCEL), harbour and mooring facilities (TCMAL), and community broadband (Bann-leathann). The Trust also provides youth activities, ranger services, croft camping, childcare, housing support, and grant funding to advance the island's sustainable development.

Product overview

Tiree Community Development Trust operates a community-owned development organization on the Scottish island of Tiree. The Trust functions as both a parent organization overseeing multiple subsidiary companies and a provider of community services. Its portfolio includes: TREL (Tiree Renewable Energy Ltd) operating the Tilley 900kW wind turbine as the primary revenue generator; TCEL (Tiree Community Enterprise Ltd) managing the fuel station and business units opened in 2024; TCMAL (Tiree Community Maritime Assets Ltd) controlling Scarinish Harbour, Milton Harbour, and moorings; Bann-leathann community broadband using radio dishes; and croft camping sites across the island. The Trust also provides direct services including youth activities, ranger service, housing projects, and a windfall grant fund.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tilley: Community wind turbine operated by TREL subsidiary - 900kW Enercon E44 turbine generating renewable energy for the island and revenue for community projects
• TREL
• TCEL
• TCMAL
• Tiree Broadband

Products and services

• Tilley Wind Turbine Community-owned 900kW Enercon E44 wind turbine installed on the Ruaig Sliabh at the east of Tiree. Generates renewable electricity revenue that supports community projects, with TREL transferring all available net cash as a donation to the Trust after overheads and loan repayments. The turbine has generated well over £1 million for the Tiree economy.
• Bann-leathann Community Broadband Community broadband service that uses shortwave radio dishes to send broadband around the island, providing internet connectivity to Tiree residents. Operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Trust.
• Community Fuel Station Community fuel station operated by subsidiary TCEL providing petrol (£1.812 per litre), diesel (£1.956 per litre), and EV charging (55p per kW) to island residents and visitors.
• Croft Camping Sites Network of 14 designated camping pitches across Tiree including West Hynish, Lodge Farm, Gott Bay East, Balephetrish West/East, Balephetrish House, Ruaig Machair, Crossapol, Vaul, and Mannal. Cost is £15 per pitch per night with maximum 3 pitches per site; fees go directly to site owners.
• Harbour and Mooring Services TCMAL owns and operates Scarinish Harbour, Milton Harbour, and 12 moorings for visiting yachts, generating revenue from maritime services and supporting local fishing and tourism.
• Youth Activities Youth activities programme coordinated by the Youth Activities Co-ordinator, offering regular events, sports activities, youth club, sci-fi club, and Gaelic youth engagement for children and young people on Tiree.
• Tiree Ranger Service (Nàdair Thiriodh) Manages the Croft Camping scheme, runs wildlife walks, and protects the natural environment on Tiree. Operated by the Trust's Ranger to safeguard fragile ecosystems and support sustainable tourism.
• Community Business Units Four business units operated by TCEL that opened in 2024, providing commercial workspace on the island for local businesses and entrepreneurs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Generated well over £1 million for the Tiree economy
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Argyll and Bute CouncilminorOthersLocal authority providing refuse and recycling services (Gott Bay Recycling Centre) and public toilets referenced in croft camping information.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Locality: UK-wide membership body for community-led organisations including community development trusts. Indirect peer that shapes policy, funding, and best practice applicable to Tiree CDT.
• Development Trusts Association Scotland: Umbrella body supporting Scotland's network of community development trusts. Tiree CDT is a member organisation; DTAS provides shared services, funding access, and peer benchmarking that frames Tiree's operating context.

Direct peers

• West Harris Trust: Harris-based community development trust that purchased the West Harris estate and develops renewables, housing, and crofting infrastructure. Closest direct match to Tiree CDT's model of island land ownership plus multi-sector community enterprise.
• Mull and Iona Community Trust: Hebridean-adjacent community trust delivering renewable energy, fuel, broadband, and community services across Mull and Iona. Highly comparable in service portfolio, governance structure, and island-community context to Tiree CDT.
• Eigg Electric: Community-owned renewable electricity grid on the Isle of Eigg combining wind, solar, and hydro. Comparable Small Isles community utility model that delivers energy infrastructure to an island population of similar scale to Tiree.
• Knoydart Foundation: Community-owned organization overseeing Knoydart peninsula with renewable energy, housing, and micro-enterprise development. Comparable as a remote-Highland community trust serving a small population with integrated energy and development services.
• Assynt Foundation: Community-owned crofting and conservation trust in Sutherland managing land for community benefit. Comparable in scale, governance, and rural-community-development model to Tiree CDT, with similar ranger/conservation focus.
• Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust: Community-owned Trust that purchased the Isle of Gigha and operates Gigha Green wind turbines to fund community projects. Mirrors Tiree's combination of land/asset ownership and renewable-energy-funded community development.
• Point and Sandwick Power: Community-owned wind farm operator on the Isle of Lewis generating profits distributed as community grants. Directly comparable to TREL/Tilley as a Scottish-islands community renewable energy vehicle that funds local development.
• Fyne Futures / Fyne Energy: Argyll-based community enterprise operating community renewables, electric transport, and local food initiatives. Comparable in geographic (Argyll), structural (community-owned), and energy-portfolio terms to Tiree's TCEL and TREL subsidiaries.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TireeCommunityDevelopmentTrust
• Xx.com/TireeTrust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

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 Tiree Community Development Trust