ASH Scotland
ASH Scotland is an independent Scottish charity founded in 1973, working to eliminate tobacco and nicotine product harms through policy advocacy, free eLearning, school/youth resources, coalition campaigns, and NHS Quit Your Way referrals across Scotland.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1973
- HeadquartersEdinburgh, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ASH Scotland does
ASH Scotland (Action on Smoking and Health (Scotland)) is a registered Scottish charity (SC 010412) and company limited by guarantee (Scottish company no 141711), founded in 1973 by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and established as a fully independent Scottish charity in 1993. It is the only ASH organisation working in and for Scotland, with a mission to eradicate the harms and inequalities caused by tobacco and related products, targeting fewer than 5% adult smoking prevalence in all Scottish communities by 2034.
The organisation delivers a portfolio of free programmes including Scotland's Charter for a Tobacco-free Generation (500+ organisational supporters), Tobacco-free Schools and Youth Work Resource Packs, a Moodle-based eLearning platform with modules on nicotine pouches, smoking during pregnancy, youth vaping, and smoking/mental health, the Youth Conversations Hub community platform, and evidence-based policy briefings. It influences legislation through coalitions including NCD Alliance Scotland (steering group member) and the Scottish Coalition On Tobacco (SCOT, 21 member organisations), and refers individuals to NHS Scotland's Quit Your Way cessation service. Technology stack is standard non-profit digital infrastructure (WordPress website, Moodle LMS, MailChimp, Google Analytics) — there is no proprietary technology platform.
ASH Scotland is funded primarily through Scottish Government grants channelled via NHS regional health boards, individual and organisational donations, and in-kind advocacy services. All services are free to beneficiaries; pricing is freemium/free across the Charter programme, eLearning courses, and NHS referrals. Distribution is domestic (Scotland only) through direct partnerships, coalition channels, NHS referrals, self-serve digital access, and parliamentary engagement. The organisation commits to WHO FCTC Article 5.3, requiring employees and partners to disassociate from tobacco industry commercial interests.
ASH Scotland firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ASH Scotland
- Legal name
- Action on Smoking & Health (Scotland) (ASH Scotland)
- Website
- https://ashscotland.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1973
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ASH Scotland is an independent Scottish charity founded in 1973, working to eliminate tobacco and nicotine product harms through policy advocacy, free eLearning, school/youth resources, coalition campaigns, and NHS Quit Your Way referrals across Scotland.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ASH Scotland industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Health Advocacy and Tobacco Control Services
- NAICS
- Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services (BPAGACAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Behavioral Health & Substance Use Public Health Programs (BPAIAJAK), Substance Use Prevention & Student Assistance Programs (School-Based) (EDAKAMAJ), Health Promotion, Prevention & Community Health Programs (BPAIAJAC)
Keywords
Where ASH Scotland is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Edinburgh
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
ASH Scotland business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Charitable Donations: ASH Scotland accepts donations from individuals and organisations to support their work. Donations can be made by contacting [email protected].
- Government Grants and Funding: ASH Scotland receives funding from the Scottish Government to support NHS regional health boards in delivering smoking prevention and cessation services. Scottish Government funding to NHS regional health boards decreased from £10,610,000 to £9,144,964 between 2016/17 and 2021/22.
- Campaign and Advocacy Services: ASH Scotland provides expert information, statistical analysis, policy briefings, and consensus building among health stakeholders to influence effective legislative and regulatory actions. They work in support of the Scottish Government's implementation of its Tobacco and Vaping Framework.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Charter for a Tobacco-free Generation - Free membership programme for organisations |
| Freemium | Monthly | Quit Your Way Scotland - Free NHS smoking cessation service |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | eLearning courses - Free training modules on tobacco control topics |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
ASH Scotland product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ASH Scotland is a registered Scottish charity that works to eliminate the harms and inequalities caused by tobacco and related products. It delivers free public-health services including Scotland's Charter for a Tobacco-free Generation, tobacco-free schools and youth resource packs, eLearning modules hosted on a dedicated Moodle platform, the Youth Conversations Hub, information briefings and statistics, and campaigning initiatives such as the Ban Disposable Vapes campaign. Its central objective is to drive adult smoking prevalence below 5% in all Scottish communities by 2034.
Product overview
ASH Scotland is a Scottish health charity focused on eliminating tobacco harms rather than a technology company. The organisation offers a portfolio of public health programmes, educational resources, and advocacy campaigns including Scotland's Charter for a Tobacco-free Generation, Tobacco-free Schools and Youth Resource Packs, eLearning modules hosted on Moodle, the Youth Conversations Hub community platform, and information briefings. Services are delivered primarily through their website, NHS referral partnerships (Quit Your Way), and educational platforms rather than a unified software product.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Scotland's Charter for a Tobacco-free Generation A free charter programme for organisations across Scotland that pledge two actions to support smoke-free environments and protect young people from tobacco and related products. Offers Supporter and Champion tiers with welcome packs, advice, support, events, webinars, the charter hub, and working group participation, with a goal of fewer than 5% adult smoking rates in all communities by 2034.
- Tobacco-free Schools Resource Pack Free secondary schools resource pack addressing themes including e-cigarettes, finances, mental health, benefits of being smoke-free, dealing with pressure, and building confidence. Updated to include activities on emerging nicotine products such as nicotine pouches. Designed for use by teachers and pupils in Scotland.
- Tobacco-free Generation Youth Work Resource Pack Free youth work resource pack equipping young people with skills and confidence to make responsible decisions on smoking, vaping, nicotine pouches, finances, and the environment. Designed for use by youth workers across Scotland.
- eLearning Modules (Moodle Platform) Free online courses and downloadable resources on tobacco and related products hosted on ASH Scotland's dedicated Moodle e-learning site. Modules cover nicotine pouches, smoking and vaping during pregnancy, smoking and problematic substance use, young people and vaping, smoking and money advice, and smoking and mental health. Targeted at health professionals, youth workers, and the public.
- Youth Conversations Hub A community platform for youth organisations to share learning and resources on smoking and vaping. Hosts in-person and online events, gathers young people's opinions, and enables practitioners to increase their knowledge and confidence on health-harming products affecting young people.
- Quit Your Way Scotland (NHS Service Referral) ASH Scotland refers individuals to NHS Scotland's free Quit Your Way stop smoking service, which provides tailored advice and support via phone (0800 84 84 84) or webchat, staffed by trained health professionals. The service is free with no minimum age limit and increases the chance of successfully stopping smoking by three to four times.
- Public Health Campaigns (No Smoking Day, World No Tobacco Day, Ban Disposable Vapes) Annual public awareness and advocacy campaigns including No Smoking Day, World No Tobacco Day, and the Ban Disposable Vapes campaign. These campaigns address tobacco harms, promote quitting, and advocate for legislative and regulatory change on tobacco, vaping, and related products in Scotland and the UK.
- Information Briefings and Statistics Evidence-based briefings on smoking and health topics, including smoking prevalence in Scotland, demographic breakdowns, smoking and dementia risk, smoking and the economy, young adult tobacco use, and vaping and e-cigarettes. Includes a smoking and vaping statistics factsheet and health board profiles, available for download on the ASH Scotland website for use by professionals, journalists, and the public.
- Youth Nicotine Cessation Programmes Resource An interactive map showcasing international evidence-informed programmes designed to prevent nicotine and vaping uptake among young people or support young people to quit. Includes programmes by country, target age range, prevention or intervention focus, and delivery approach. Aimed at practitioners and policymakers working on youth nicotine prevention.
Quantifiable outcome
- Smoking rates reduced from 52% (1974) to 14% (2025)
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use ASH Scotland
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
ASH Scotland technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
ASH Scotland partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH)coreRCPCH joined the Ban Disposable Vapes campaign in June 2023, adding their strong voice calling for a ban alongside ASH Scotland. Their support strengthened the public health argument for the campaign.
- Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE)coreRCPE added their strong voice calling for a ban on disposable vapes in June 2023, supporting ASH Scotland's campaign. This was significant as ASH Scotland was originally founded by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in 1973.
- Green AllianceminorASH Scotland signed a letter coordinated by the Green Alliance in November 2022 urging the UK Government to ban disposable e-cigarettes. Green Alliance is a UK-wide think tank focused on progressive environmental policy.
- Keep Scotland BeautifulcoreASH Scotland partnered with Keep Scotland Beautiful from 2022 to campaign for a ban on disposable vapes on environmental and public health grounds. Keep Scotland Beautiful is part of the coalition that successfully advocated for the ban that came into force on 1 June 2025.
- Marine Conservation Society (MCS)coreASH Scotland partnered with Marine Conservation Society from 2022 to raise concerns about disposable vapes on environmental grounds. MCS documented the increase in littered vapes through Source to Sea citizen science surveys and beach cleans.
- Laura Young (Climate Activist)minorEnvironmental scientist and campaigner Laura Young partnered with ASH Scotland from May 2022 to lead the emerging Ban Disposable Vapes campaign in Scotland alongside Keep Scotland Beautiful and Marine Conservation Society.
- NCD Alliance ScotlandcoreASH Scotland is a steering group member of NCD Alliance Scotland, campaigning with other public health organisations to address Scotland's biggest killers through action on societal factors that cause ill-health. Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are responsible for almost 39,000 deaths annually.
- Scottish Coalition On Tobacco (SCOT)coreSCOT is a coalition of 21 health groups, charities and civic and voluntary organisations campaigning to shape a positive future for public health in Scotland. ASH Scotland is a member actively participating in coalition activities and policy advocacy.
- Public Health ScotlandcorePublic Health Scotland is a key partner of ASH Scotland. They have developed a suite of e-learning modules and face-to-face training for specialist stop-smoking advisors, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. ASH Scotland's eLearning site is distinct from Public Health Scotland's Virtual Learning Environment.
- NHS Scotland / Quit Your WaycoreASH Scotland promotes NHS Scotland's Quit Your Way service as the primary referral destination for smoking cessation support. This free service is run by NHS 24 and staffed by trained health professionals. ASH Scotland provides Very Brief Advice training to help refer patients.
- Scottish GovernmentcoreASH Scotland works in support of the Scottish Government's implementation of its Tobacco and Vaping Framework to drive progress towards a tobacco-free generation by 2034. The Scottish Government provides funding to NHS regional health boards for smoking cessation services.
- Young ScotcoreASH Scotland partnered with Young Scot to produce information and videos revealing the truth about vaping for young people. Resources include information about smoking effects on mental health and survey results on young people's vaping behaviours in Scotland.
- Youth ScotlandcoreASH Scotland partnered with Youth Scotland to develop a training course for youth workers looking at young people, smoking, vaping and the impact on mental health. Youth Scotland is a key partner for delivering training to youth workers across Scotland.
- Children 1stminorChildren 1st supported ASH Scotland in producing a resource for parents and carers on talking to teens about smoking. The resource aims to leave parents and carers feeling more confident discussing smoking with young people in their care.
- University of GlasgowcoreUniversity of Glasgow researchers worked with students to co-produce a video exploring e-cigarettes and how marketing targeted at young people can expose them to addictive products. Dr Marissa Smith conducted research with 11-16-year-olds exploring experiences with vape advertising.
- NASUWT (Teachers Union)minorNASUWT teachers have expressed serious concern about pupils using nicotine pouches during school time (46% report this). ASH Scotland's new Nicotine Pouches e-learning module was welcomed by NASUWT as part of the systemic response needed to tackle substance misuse in schools.
- Zero Waste ScotlandcoreZero Waste Scotland was commissioned by the Scottish Government in Spring 2023 to conduct an urgent review to understand and manage the environmental impact of disposable vapes. Their review published on 30 June 2023 supported ASH Scotland's calls for a ban.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ASH Scotland competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Fresh (Smokefree North East): England's first dedicated regional tobacco control programme, funded by local authorities. Operates with a near-identical model to ASH Scotland — public-facing advocacy, education resources, smoking cessation support, and coalition-led campaigns — making it a directly comparable regional peer.
- Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP): Scottish health advocacy charity focused on alcohol harm reduction. Operates with a parallel model to ASH Scotland — evidence-based policy briefings, coalition building, NHS/Scottish Government engagement, and public health campaigns — within an adjacent substance-use policy domain.
- Action on Smoking and Health (ASH UK): The UK-wide sister organisation from which ASH Scotland originated in 1973. ASH UK operates as the parallel anti-tobacco advocacy charity at UK level, sharing mission, Article 5.3 commitment, and core policy priorities on tobacco and vaping regulation.
Broad incumbents
- Public Health Scotland: Scotland's national public health body and a strategic partner of ASH Scotland. Comparable as a public health organisation that delivers population-level health interventions including smoking cessation, but as a government agency rather than an independent charity.
- Asthma + Lung UK: UK charity focused on respiratory health (formerly British Lung Foundation). Comparable as a health charity whose advocacy agenda includes smoking cessation, vape regulation, and clean air legislation — overlapping with ASH Scotland's policy priorities.
- British Heart Foundation: Major UK health charity that funds research into smoking-related cardiovascular disease and campaigns on tobacco control. Comparable as a large-scale health charity with overlapping anti-smoking policy advocacy, though operating across a broader disease focus.
- Cancer Research UK: Major UK health charity with a substantial tobacco control policy and research portfolio. Comparable as a large-scale health advocacy organisation that funds tobacco-related research and lobbies on regulation, though its mission is broader than ASH Scotland's.
Regional players
- Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO): Scotland's membership body for charities and voluntary organisations. Comparable as a Scottish third-sector infrastructure organisation supporting ASH Scotland's operating environment, though not directly involved in tobacco policy.
Emerging players
- Action on Addiction: UK charity addressing substance use disorders including nicotine dependency. Comparable as a charity operating in adjacent substance use prevention and recovery space, though with a broader addiction remit.
- NCD Alliance: Global non-communicable disease advocacy network of which ASH Scotland is a steering group member. Comparable as a coalition-based chronic disease prevention advocacy organisation addressing tobacco as a key NCD risk factor.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ASH Scotland social profiles
Digital presenceASH Scotland financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ASH Scotland leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
ASH Scotland funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ASH Scotland M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ASH Scotland
What does ASH Scotland do?
ASH Scotland is a registered Scottish charity that works to eliminate the harms and inequalities caused by tobacco and related products. It delivers free public-health services including Scotland's Charter for a Tobacco-free Generation, tobacco-free schools and youth resource packs, eLearning modules hosted on a dedicated Moodle platform, the Youth Conversations Hub, information briefings and statistics, and campaigning initiatives such as the Ban Disposable Vapes campaign. Its central objective is to drive adult smoking prevalence below 5% in all Scottish communities by 2034.
Is ASH Scotland a public or private company?
ASH Scotland is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was ASH Scotland founded?
ASH Scotland was founded in 1973. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ASH Scotland based?
ASH Scotland is headquartered in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does ASH Scotland make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Charitable Donations are the primary driver. The others are government Grants and Funding and campaign and Advocacy Services.
Who are ASH Scotland's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Fresh (Smokefree North East), Scottish Health Action on Alcohol Problems (SHAAP) and Action on Smoking and Health (ASH UK). Broad incumbents are Public Health Scotland, Asthma + Lung UK, British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research UK. Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is listed as a regional player. Emerging players are Action on Addiction and NCD Alliance.
Does ASH Scotland have an API?
No public API is recorded for ASH Scotland.
What industry is ASH Scotland in?
ASH Scotland's product category is Public Health Advocacy and Tobacco Control Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGACAE, Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services, with a secondary code of BPAIAJAK, Behavioral Health & Substance Use Public Health Programs. Its NAICS code is 813.