What Scottish Prison Service does

Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government, established as the statutory provider of custodial services in Scotland under the Prisons and Young Offenders Institutions (Scotland) Rules 2011. SPS directly operates 16 prisons across Scotland and oversees one private-sector facility under contract, delivering secure custody for approximately 8,000 individuals committed by Scottish Courts — including remand, short-term, long-term, life-sentence, and extended-sentence prisoners — across populations such as adult males, females, young offenders, and community custody residents. The organisation employs approximately 5,000 staff across prisons, headquarters (Edinburgh), the SPS College, and a training and storage facility, and is led by a Chief Executive supported by an Advisory Board chaired by a Non-Executive Director.

SPS's core product is statutory custodial care, augmented by a portfolio of related services: Family and Friends Support (visitor centres, virtual visits via EmailAPrisoner, family contact officers), the Victim Notification Scheme for registered victims of crime, the Scotland-wide Court Custody and Prisoner Escorting Service contracted on behalf of multi-agency justice partners, Prison Industries for purposeful activity, and the Raise a Concern 24/7 phone line. Supporting programmes include the HMP Perth Employability Academies, the CECA Scotland Academy (civil engineering training, launched 2025), the HMP Shotts over 50s support group with Age Scotland and NHS Health Improvement, and the Reusing IT partnership at HMP Barlinnie.

SPS does not generate commercial revenue; it is funded entirely through Scottish Government budget appropriations, with no external shareholders or investors. The go-to-market model is functionally direct-to-government: SPS is accountable to the Scottish Parliament and operates under a Framework Agreement with Scottish Ministers and the Director General (Education and Justice). Customer segments are non-commercial and include the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (referrer), multi-agency justice partners (escorting), registered victims of crime (notification), and families/friends of those in custody (family services). Underlying technology is not publicly disclosed; integrations are limited to standard web analytics and virtual-visit platforms. Additional capital projects include the under-construction HMP Glasgow (1,344-bed capacity across five houseblocks).

Name

Scottish Prison Service

Legal name

Scottish Prison Service

Website

https://sps.gov.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Scottish Prison Service is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government that operates 17 prisons providing secure custody for around 8,000 people, employing approximately 5,000 staff, and delivering family support, victim notification, and court escorting services across Scotland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Correctional Services

NAICS

Correctional Institutions (922140), Correctional Institutions (92214), Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (922)

akta.pro primary industry

Adult Corrections (Prisons & Jails) (BPAIAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Juvenile Justice System (Courts & Detention) (BPAIAFAF), Correctional Facility Operations (Prisons & Jails) (BPAKANAA), Correctional Health, Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services (In-Custody) (BPAKANAG)

Keywords

• Correctional services
• Prison custody
• Offender rehabilitation
• Victim notification
• Prisoner escort services

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: SPS is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government and is funded through government appropriations. It does not generate commercial revenue.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Scottish Prison Service is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government that provides secure custodial care for approximately 8,000 people across Scotland through 16 directly operated prisons and one privately operated prison under contract. Its core activities include detention and welfare of remand, short-term, long-term, life sentence and extended sentence prisoners, alongside family and friends support, the Victim Notification Scheme, and the Court Custody and Prisoner Escorting Service.

Product overview

The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government providing prison services through a network of 16 directly operated prisons and one privately operated prison. The core offering is secure custody services for approximately 8,000 people, supported by Family and Friends Support Services, the Victim Notification Scheme, and the Court Custody and Prisoner Escorting Service. Supporting offerings include Prison Industries, Careers services, and the Raise a Concern service. The prison network includes facilities for various populations including high security, open conditions, women's facilities, young offenders, and specialised units.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Prison Custody Services
• Family and Friends Support Services
• Victim Notification Scheme
• Court Custody and Prisoner Escorting Service
• Raise a Concern Service
• Prison Industries

Quantifiable outcome

• HMP Perth Employability Academies deliver strong outcomes and pathways to employment for individuals in custody through partnerships with employers, colleges, and community organisations.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Integration6 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CECA Scotland (Civil Engineering Contractors Association Scotland)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025CECA Scotland partnered with Fife College and South Lanarkshire College to launch the CECA Scotland Academy civil engineering training programme at HMP Perth, the first such programme in a Scottish prison. The nine-month programme offers an SQA National Progression Award in Construction Operations. Fourteen individuals in custody are enrolled, with CECA Scotland members providing direct pathways to employment in civil engineering sectors including transport, energy, communications, waste and water.
• Reusing ITcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Reusing IT is a Scottish charity committed to combating digital exclusion. With support from HMP Barlinnie Officer David Sneddon, prisoners have refurbished and cleaned thousands of pieces of technology equipment. Reusing IT is now the 4th largest donor of technology to Ukraine, after Google, UNICEF and HP, supporting education for children and young people affected by the war.
• Early Years ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly Years Scotland operates Family Visitor Centres at HMP Low Moss, HMP Greenock, and other establishments, providing a welcoming, supportive, and child-friendly environment for families visiting someone in prison. The charity also delivers the Family Visitor Centre, Fathers' Programme, Learning Together Through Play, and Baby Massage sessions at HMP Low Moss, funded by the Scottish Government and Children in Need.
• Age ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAge Scotland partnered with HMP Shotts to deliver a 'Ageing well in prison' pilot programme in summer 2024, a seven-week course covering topics including moving your body, connecting with others, exploring food and drink, keeping your brain active, and emotional wellbeing. This led to a permanent weekly over 50s support group, supported by the NHS Health Improvement Team.
• Barnardo'scoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBarnardo's manages the Visitor Centre at HMP Edinburgh in conjunction with SPS and the Onward Trust, providing support for families affected by imprisonment. The centre offers a purpose-built, welcoming and supportive environment for visitors.
• Forth Valley InclusioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerForth Valley Inclusion runs the Family Help Hub at HMP & YOI Stirling, providing emotional and practical support to women and their visitors in a friendly, open and non-judgemental space. The charity also operates the Family Centre at HMP Glenochil.
• Apex ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerApex Scotland provides visitor support services at HMP & YOI Polmont and HMP Inverness, offering person-centred support to families affected by a loved one's imprisonment including practical assistance, emotional support, and clear accessible information.
• CrossReachcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCrossReach staff and volunteers operate the Visitor Support Centre at HMP Perth, providing confidential conversations, emotional support, and practical information for visitors in a dedicated waiting area.
• Fife College and South Lanarkshire CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFife College and South Lanarkshire College are college partners for the CECA Scotland Academy civil engineering training programme at HMP Perth, providing SQA National Progression Award qualifications in Construction Operations.
• Stirling CouncilminorOthersStirling Council granted planning permission for noise reducing window enclosures at HMP & YOI Stirling as part of SPS's commitment to reducing noise disturbance for local residents.
• NHS Health Improvement TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe NHS Health Improvement Team provides health and wellbeing advice to the HMP Shotts over 50s group during their weekly sessions, supporting older prisoners to 'live well' in prison and prepare for eventual release.
• CyrenianscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCyrenians operates the Visitor Centre at HMP Addiewell in partnership with SPS, offering support for those visiting the prison and providing meaningful support and information for families and friends affected by imprisonment.
• Getting Better TogethercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGetting Better Together manages the Visitor Centre at HMP Shotts, providing a welcoming and supportive environment for visitors.
• Recovery Enterprises ScotlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecovery Enterprises Scotland manages the Outside Visits Hub at HMP Kilmarnock, offering a welcoming and supportive environment particularly for first-time visitors, and delivers the Recovery Month football tournament at the prison.
• Onward TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Onward Trust partners with SPS and Barnardo's to manage the Visitor Centre at HMP Edinburgh, providing support for families affected by imprisonment.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS): HMPPS is the UK government agency responsible for prisons and probation in England and Wales, operating a comparable statutory prison function to SPS but at a much larger scale (~80,000+ prisoners). It is the closest functional equivalent and direct jurisdictional counterpart.
• Northern Ireland Prison Service: Operates prisons in Northern Ireland as part of the UK justice family. Comparable in scale, statutory mandate, and operating model to SPS, including direct public-sector delivery and accountability to the Northern Ireland Executive.

Regional players

• Irish Prison Service: Statutory agency operating prisons across the Republic of Ireland. Comparable function and public-sector model to SPS, but serves a different jurisdiction with overlapping justice and rehabilitation policy objectives.
• Corrections Victoria: Operates the public prison system in Victoria, Australia. Comparable as a public-sector agency delivering custodial services, rehabilitation programmes, and family support under a strategic policy mandate.

Broad incumbents

• G4S / Allied Universal Justice Services: Operates prison and detention services internationally, including UK youth custody (e.g., Oakhill STC) and Australian facilities. Comparable as a private-sector provider of secure custodial services at scale.
• Corrections Service Canada (CSC): Federal Canadian agency operating federal prisons and overseeing community corrections. Comparable as a national statutory prison agency with rehabilitation, reintegration, and structured sentence-management functions.
• Sodexo Justice Services: Operates custodial and rehabilitation services globally, including prisons in the UK (e.g., HMP Forest Bank) and Australia. A broad incumbent offering a commercial alternative to public-sector delivery.
• Serco Justice Services: Private-sector operator that previously ran HMP Kilmarnock on behalf of SPS and runs prisons in other jurisdictions (e.g., HMP Doncaster in England). A potential outsourcing counterpart and broader incumbent in the prison services market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/scottishprisons
• Facebookfacebook.com/ScottishPrisonService
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scottish-prison-service

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles30 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Scottish Prison Service