Scottish Land Commission

What Scottish Land Commission does

The Scottish Land Commission is an executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government, established on 1 April 2017 under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 and headquartered at An Lòchran, Inverness Campus. It is the only statutory body in Scotland dedicated to land reform, with a mandate to provide evidence, advice, and recommendations to Scottish Ministers and the Scottish Parliament, while also supporting landowners, communities, public bodies, and tenant farmers to put good practice into action. Its strategic priorities are organised around three themes — People (enabling participation in land decisions), Power (diversifying control and governance in land ownership), and Prosperity (using land value to create shared economic, social, and environmental outcomes). The Commission additionally houses the statutory Tenant Farming Commissioner role.

The Commission delivers its mandate through a portfolio of advisory and research services rather than technology products. These include the Good Practice Programme (advice and casework for landowners and communities), Tenant Farming Support (codes of practice, mediation, and a helpline), Evidence and Insights (rural land market reporting and research), Toolkits and Guides, the ScotLand Futures engagement programme, and Land and Communities Advisory Services. Underlying infrastructure is minimal: a public-facing website developed to WCAG 2.2 AA standards with a Recite Me accessibility toolbar, supported by social channels (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Bluesky), bimonthly general newsletters, and a quarterly Tenant Farming Newsletter. No proprietary technology platform, API, or AI/ML capability is in operation.

The Commission's business model is wholly publicly funded rather than commercial. It receives its entire operating budget via annual grant-in-aid from the Scottish Government and provides all advice, guidance, publications, and support free of charge to its stakeholders. There are no subscription fees, commercial products, or revenue-generating services. It is governed by a Board of Commissioners (including Land Commissioners and the Tenant Farming Commissioner) appointed by Scottish Ministers, with day-to-day operations led by Chief Executive Hamish Trench and a senior management team of approximately 23 staff total.

Name

Scottish Land Commission

Legal name

Scottish Land Commission

Website

https://landcommission.gov.scot

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Scottish Land Commission is a Scottish Government statutory body established under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016, providing evidence-based policy advice to Scottish Ministers and advisory support to landowners, communities, and tenant farmers on land reform in Scotland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

SIC

Non-Operating Establishments (9995)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Administration & Cadastral Services (Public Land Records, Parcel Management) (BPAIANAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Forestry & Public Lands Administration (State/National Forests) (BPAIAMAF), Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH)

Keywords

• Land reform policy
• Tenant farming advisory
• Community ownership support
• Rural land market research
• Public body guidance

Headquarters

HQ city

Inverness

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Scottish Government Funding: As an executive non-departmental public body established by the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016, the Scottish Land Commission is funded by the Scottish Government. Annual accounts are published showing how public money is spent.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The Scottish Land Commission is an executive non-departmental public body that provides free policy advice, evidence, and practical guidance on land reform in Scotland. Its core offerings include the Good Practice Programme advising landowners, communities, and public bodies, Tenant Farming Support including codes of practice, mediation and a helpline, research and rural land market reporting, toolkits and guides, and the ScotLand Futures national engagement programme.

Product overview

The Scottish Land Commission is a public body established by the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 that offers advisory, guidance, and research services rather than a technology product. Its portfolio consists of the Good Practice Programme providing advice on responsible land ownership; Tenant Farming Support including codes of practice and mediation; Evidence and Insights through rural land market reporting and research; Toolkits and Guides for practical implementation; the ScotLand Futures national engagement programme; and Land and Communities Advisory Services for community ownership support. These services collectively help shape land policy and support practical change in Scotland's land ownership system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 500 community organisations now own over 850 assets across Scotland, generating jobs, delivering homes and supporting vital local services
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Scotland's Rural College (SRUC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 December 2021Research partnership for rural land market analysis. SRUC collaborated with Savills and Strutt and Parker on a major report examining rural land transactions, market trends, and the influence of natural capital investment in Scotland's land market.
• SavillscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 December 2021Land agent partnership providing market expertise and data for rural land market research. Collaborated with SRUC and Strutt and Parker on analysis of land transactions and natural capital trends.
• Strutt and ParkercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 December 2021Land agent partnership providing market expertise and data for rural land market research. Collaborated with SRUC and Savills on analysis of land transactions and natural capital trends.
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 December 2021RICS Public Affairs Lead for Scotland supported the land market research project and encouraged land agents to participate in the study.
• Woodland TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership referenced in case study on Loch Arkaig Pine Forest, where the Woodland Trust works with Arkaig Community Forest on shared ownership and collaborative governance of native woodland restoration.
• Arkaig Community ForestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity forest organization partnered with Woodland Trust on Loch Arkaig Pine Forest case study demonstrating shared stewardship rooted in community and conservation.
• Scottish Land FundcoreOthersThe Commission advises on and supports the Scottish Land Fund which provides funding for community land acquisitions. The Commission's advice recommends increasing the Fund and moving to multi-year funding cycles.
• Cairngorms National Park AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Cairngorms National Park Authority on the Community Benefits from Nature Adviser role, exploring opportunities arising from investment in natural capital.
• Community Land ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork partnership through Natural Capital Partnership Project working with advisers on developing national best practice for community benefits from nature restoration.
• Scottish Land & EstatescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry organization partnership for Land Rights and Responsibilities Self-Assessment Pilot Programme, working directly with land owners and managers across different sectors.
• National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarming union partnership for Land Rights and Responsibilities Self-Assessment Pilot Programme and ongoing engagement on tenant farming and land rights issues.
• Forestry and Land ScotlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGemma Campbell, Land Rights and Responsibilities Manager, is a member of Forestry and Land Scotland's Community Asset Transfer Scheme Panel.
• Keylinks Lifetime Tenure Roll (KLTR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGemma Campbell, Land Rights and Responsibilities Manager, is a member of KLTR's Ownerless Property Transfer Scheme Panel.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Community Land Scotland: Membership body representing community landowners in Scotland and a core partner of the Scottish Land Commission. Comparable as a non-government organisation deeply engaged in the same community-ownership, land reform and rural land-use policy agenda.

Regional players

• Welsh Government Land Reform Programme: Welsh Government policy and advisory function on land reform, mirroring the Scottish Land Commission's role for Wales. Comparable as the most direct cross-border peer in statutory land reform and community ownership policy.
• Scottish Housing Regulator: Independent regulator of social landlords in Scotland. Comparable as a small Scottish public body with statutory advisory, regulatory and reporting functions tied to land, housing and community outcomes.

Direct peers

• NatureScot (Scottish Natural Heritage): Scottish Government public body responsible for Scotland's nature and landscape, with responsibilities spanning conservation, land use advice and biodiversity. Comparable as a Scottish NDPB delivering land-related policy, advisory services and evidence-based research.
• Forestry and Land Scotland: Scottish Government executive agency that manages Scotland's national forests and public land. Comparable as another Scottish NDPB operating in land management, public land administration and community engagement, and a named partner of the Scottish Land Commission.
• Crofting Commission: Statutory regulator of crofting in Scotland with regulatory and dispute-resolution functions over agricultural land tenure. Comparable to the Scottish Land Commission as a small Scottish public body focused on land tenure, tenant/crofting issues and rural policy.

Broad incumbents

• Highlands and Islands Enterprise: Scottish Government economic and community development agency for the Highlands and Islands. Comparable as a public body intersecting with the Scottish Land Commission's rural, community-ownership and land-based economic development remit.
• HM Land Registry: UK Government non-ministerial department responsible for registering land ownership in England and Wales. Comparable as a public body overseeing land records and transparency in land markets, intersecting with the Scottish Land Commission's policy interests.
• Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA): Scotland's principal environmental regulator covering pollution control, waste and flood risk. Comparable as a larger Scottish NDPB delivering public-interest regulation, advisory and statutory functions across land-related domains.
• Registers of Scotland: Scottish Government agency responsible for maintaining land and property registers. Comparable as a public body handling land records and supporting land market transparency, a stated goal of the Scottish Land Commission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xbsky.app/profile/scottishlandcom.bsky.social
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCSYAnM3N5r31hgQBt9LSniA
• Facebookfacebook.com/scottishlandcommission
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scottish-land-commission
• Instagraminstagram.com/scottishlandcommission

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Scottish Land Commission