Sistema Scotland

What Sistema Scotland does

Sistema Scotland is a registered Scottish charity (SC039119), founded in April 2008 by writer and broadcaster Richard Holloway, that delivers the Big Noise programme, a free, intensive orchestral music education and social change initiative for children and families in targeted disadvantaged communities across Scotland. The charity operates six geographically distinct Big Noise centres across five Scottish cities: Raploch (Stirling, 2008), Govanhill (Glasgow, 2013), Torry (Aberdeen, 2015), Douglas (Dundee, 2017), Fallin (Stirling, 2021), and Wester Hailes (Edinburgh, 2022), plus a national Big Noise United Orchestra launched in July 2024 and a Little Noise early-years sub-programme (ages 0-4). Reaching over 3,500 children and young people, the programme uses the symphony orchestra model as a framework for developing musical skills alongside life skills, with independent research by the Glasgow Centre for Population Health documenting seven areas of positive impact and a 98% positive post-school destination rate.

The organisation employs 74 staff and is led by CEO Vicky Williams (appointed September 2023, succeeding founding CEO Nicola Killean OBE). Revenue is generated entirely through grants and donations rather than fees: the Scottish Government is the primary funder (£3.2 million committed for 2026, up from £2.6 million in 2023-24, with continuous support since 2012), supplemented by five local authority councils (Stirling, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh), a roster of charitable trusts and foundations (Esmee Fairbairn, Garfield Weston, William Grant, National Lottery Community Fund, PPL, Peter Cundill, Foundation Scotland, Baillie Gifford), and individual donations plus fundraising events. Approximately 40% of income is derived from private grants and donations including gifts in wills. All programme services, instruments, meals, and snacks are provided free of charge to participants.

Strategic delivery is anchored by long-standing partnerships with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (side-by-side performances at major venues), the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (undergraduate module and paid cover-musician pipeline), and city-level authorities and schools. Performance opportunities range from local community concerts to high-profile appearances at Holyrood, Westminster, the Edinburgh International Festival (including alongside Gustavo Dudamel's YOLA), and international venues. The organisation is governed by a board chaired by Benny Higgins, with two new board members appointed in January 2025.

Name

Sistema Scotland

Legal name

Sistema Scotland

Website

https://makeabignoise.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Sistema Scotland is a Scottish charity that delivers the Big Noise programme, providing free orchestral music education to over 3,500 children and families in disadvantaged communities across six centres in five Scottish cities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Music Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Music Instruction (Instrumental & Vocal) (EDAMAAAE), Early Childhood Music Education (Ages 0–7) (EDAMANAD)

Keywords

• Community music education
• Youth orchestra programmes
• Social impact charity
• Music education charity
• Community arts programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Stirling

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Sistema Scotland receives significant funding from the Scottish Government (£3.2 million in 2026) and local authority councils including Stirling Council, Glasgow City Council, Aberdeen City Council, Dundee City Council, and The City of Edinburgh Council.
2. Trusts and Foundations: Funding from private charitable foundations including Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, William Grant Foundation, National Lottery Community Fund, PPL (10 years of support), Peter Cundill Foundation, Foundation Scotland, Baillie Gifford, and others.
3. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals, including monthly 'Big Friend' subscriptions. Single donations from £30 to £150+, and monthly donations from £15 to £50+. Also includes legacy gifts through wills.
4. Fundraising Events: Community fundraising activities including Kiltwalk participation, marathon running, bake sales, and other sponsored challenges.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sistema Scotland delivers the Big Noise programme, a free, intensive orchestral music education and social change initiative that uses the symphony orchestra as a community model to develop musical and life skills in children and young people (ages 0-18) from disadvantaged communities across Scotland. Programmes are operated through six community-based centres (Raploch, Govanhill, Torry, Douglas, Fallin, Wester Hailes) and include the Little Noise early-years sub-programme and the national Big Noise United Orchestra. All services, instruments, meals and snacks are provided free to participants.

Product overview

Sistema Scotland operates a single unified programme called Big Noise, which is a high-quality music education and social change initiative. The portfolio consists of six geographically distinct local centre programmes (Big Noise Raploch, Govanhill, Torry, Douglas, Fallin, and Wester Hailes), a national Big Noise United Orchestra, and the Little Noise early years sub-programme. All programmes are free to participants and use orchestral music instruction as a vehicle for developing life skills, confidence, and community cohesion among children and young people in disadvantaged areas of Scotland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Little Noise: Free weekly drop-in music sessions for pre-school infants and children (aged 0-4), accompanied by parents/carers, to develop early cognitive and social skills in a safe and nurturing space.
• Big Noise United Orchestra

Products and services

• Big Noise Sistema Scotland's flagship intensive orchestral music education and social change programme for children and young people (ages 0-18) and families in targeted disadvantaged communities across Scotland. Delivered free of charge through six community-based centres: Big Noise Raploch (Stirling), Govanhill (Glasgow), Torry (Aberdeen), Douglas (Dundee), Fallin (Stirling) and Wester Hailes (Edinburgh). Uses the symphony orchestra as a community through which participants gain musical skills (violin, cello, brass, woodwinds, percussion) and life skills including confidence, teamwork, resilience, pride and aspiration.
• Little Noise Free weekly drop-in music sessions for pre-school infants and children aged 0-4, accompanied by parents/carers, designed to engage families with music and develop early cognitive and social skills in a safe and nurturing space. Operates as an early-years sub-programme of Big Noise.
• Big Noise United Orchestra A fully inclusive, non-auditioned nationwide orchestra that is free to take part in for all Big Noise participants. Brings together over 100 young people from multiple Big Noise centres annually for residential and concert performances, with appearances at venues including the Edinburgh International Festival alongside the NYO2 youth orchestra and Gustavo Dudamel.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% of Big Noise participants achieved a positive post-school destination (2022 study by Glasgow Centre for Population Health)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partnership established in 2018 to deliver a Big Noise module for fourth-year undergraduate music students. The module includes lectures taught by Big Noise staff plus 40 hours of placement at Big Noise locations. Graduates can join the Big Noise Cover Musician list for paid work opportunities.
• Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership for side-by-side performances where Big Noise young musicians perform alongside professional RSNO musicians at prestigious venues including Music Hall Aberdeen, Caird Hall Dundee, Perth Concert Hall, Usher Hall Edinburgh, and Royal Concert Hall Glasgow. The partnership provides performance opportunities for young people and has been running for multiple years.
• Edinburgh International FestivalflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBig Noise young musicians performed alongside NYO2 youth orchestra from New York at the Edinburgh International Festival, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel. Also performed at Edinburgh Fringe community stage.
• LA Phil / YOLAflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Gustavo Dudamel's Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (YOLA) programme. Big Noise performed alongside YOLA at the Edinburgh International Festival under Dudamel's conductorship.
• Stirling CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner for Big Noise Raploch and Big Noise Fallin programmes, providing support and partnership through the council's education and community services.
• Glasgow City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner for Big Noise Govanhill programme, working with schools including St Bride's, Holy Cross, Annette Street, and Cuthbertson Primary Schools, and Shawlands Academy.
• Aberdeen City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner for Big Noise Torry programme, working with Greyhope & Tullos Primary Schools and Lochside Academy.
• Dundee City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner for Big Noise Douglas programme, working with Claypotts Castle, St Pius, and Balmuildy Primary Schools, and Craigie & St. Paul's High School, and Grove Academy.
• The City of Edinburgh CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner for Big Noise Wester Hailes programme, working with Canal View, Clovenstone, and Sighthill Primary & Nursery Schools.
• National Galleries of ScotlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative outreach partnership with Big Noise Govanhill, including photography projects and artistic activities for participants.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sistemascotland
• Facebookfacebook.com/sistemascotland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sistemascotland
• Instagraminstagram.com/sistemascotland

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 Sistema Scotland