Scotland's Towns Partnership

What Scotland's Towns Partnership does

Scotland's Towns Partnership (STP), legally Scotland's Towns Limited (Company No. SC419769), is a Stirling-based national towns collective established in 2013 to represent and promote the diversity of Scotland's 508 towns. It operates as a quasi-advocacy membership body serving local authorities, Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), community groups, development trusts, third sector bodies, and Scottish Government agencies. STP's core technology stack centres on the Understanding Scottish Places (USP) data platform — a national typology and benchmarking tool covering 508 Scottish towns with a proprietary Your Town Audit — supplemented by the Town Centre Toolkit, the Place Standard assessment framework, the Funding Finder advisory service, and the Improvement Districts network. The Scotland Loves Local campaign, including its gift card programme and awards franchise, extends STP's reach into consumer-facing localism promotion, while the annual Scotland's Towns Conference and the Cross Party Group on Towns and Town Centres provide convening infrastructure.

STP monetises primarily through tiered annual membership subscriptions — Small Business from £29+VAT, Organisational, and Individual tiers — alongside revenue from events (the annual Scotland's Towns Conference, Learning Events series), half-day Funding Finder research sessions, and ancillary sponsorship. The organisation is the trusted operational partner of the Scottish Government and CoSLA, having led the Town Centre Action Plan (TCAP) Expert Review in 2020 and published 'A New Future for Scotland's Towns' in 2021, which catalysed the joint TCAP2 response in April 2022. It currently facilitates the TCAP Forum jointly established by Scottish Government and CoSLA. The business is privately registered, governed by a board chaired by Professor Leigh Sparks (University of Stirling) and led operationally by Chief Officer Kimberley Guthrie, with a small staff base of 1-10.

Name

Scotland's Towns Partnership

Legal name

Scotland's Towns Limited

Website

https://scotlandstowns.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Scotland's Towns Partnership is a Stirling-based national membership collective that supports town centre regeneration across Scotland's 508 towns, serving local authorities, Business Improvement Districts, community groups, third sector bodies, and Scottish Government agencies through data platforms, toolkits, campaigns, and events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (9251), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

State/Provincial Housing, Urban/Regional Planning & Community Development (BPAIABAM)

Keywords

• Urban regeneration services
• Town centre advocacy
• Community development networks
• Membership organisation
• Place-based policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Stirling

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees at multiple tiers providing access to knowledge, expertise, networks, events, funding support, digital communications, and STP Member brand stamp. Membership levels include Small Business, Organisational, and Individual.
2. Events and Conferences: Revenue from Scotland's Towns Conference (annual) and learning events, with priority or reduced-cost access for members.
3. Funding Support Services: Half-day dedicated Funding Finder research sessions and connections to specialist funding consultants for members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Scotland's Towns Partnership operates as Scotland's national towns collective, providing membership-based advocacy, research, and community programs for town centre development. Core offerings include the Understanding Scottish Places (USP) data platform covering 508 Scottish towns, the Scotland Loves Local campaign and gift card programme, annual Scotland's Towns Conference, Funding Finder research service, member toolkits (Town Toolkit, Place Standard Tool, Circular Communities Toolkit), and policy advisory work delivered in partnership with Scottish Government and CoSLA through the TCAP Forum.

Product overview

Scotland's Towns Partnership operates as a membership-based collective and advocacy organization rather than a software product company. Its core offerings include data and analytics tools (Understanding Scottish Places, Funding Finder), resource toolkits (Town Toolkit, Circular Communities Toolkit, Clipper Event Toolkit), assessment frameworks (Place Standard Tool), campaign programs (Scotland Loves Local with its associated Gift Card and Awards), and professional networks (Improvement Districts, TCAP Forum). The organization also convenes annual conferences and parliamentary groups. The portfolio is organized around supporting town centre regeneration, local economic development, and community engagement across Scotland's 508 towns.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Scotland Loves Local: A campaign putting localism at the heart of a stronger, greener, fairer Scotland, encouraging people to Choose Local.
• Scotland's Improvement Districts
• Understanding Scottish Places (USP)
• Town Toolkit
• Place Standard Tool

Products and services

• STP Small Business Membership Annual subscription tier providing small businesses with access to STP knowledge, expertise and networks around towns, priority or reduced access to learning events and the annual Scotland's Towns Conference, monthly Funding Finder report, digital communications support, and use of the STP Member brand stamp.
• STP Organisational Membership Annual subscription for local authorities, business improvement districts, and larger organisations. Includes discounted USP Your Town Audit (six-day study benchmark), full STP member benefits, priority access to conferences and events, and dedicated funding research support.
• STP Individual Membership Annual subscription for individual advocates and practitioners committed to town improvement. Provides access to STP networks, knowledge, learning events and annual conference with priority or reduced access.
• Scotland's Towns Conference Annual national conference held at venues such as Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy, connecting policy, investment, local leadership, and innovation to support thriving towns and resilient communities across Scotland. Ticket sales to members and non-members.
• USP Your Town Audit Benchmarking research service using the Understanding Scottish Places (USP) data platform, providing consistent, comparable analysis of characteristics, challenges and opportunities across Scotland's 508 towns.
• Funding Finder Research Service Funding support service providing monthly reports on upcoming funding opportunities for Scottish towns and dedicated half-day research sessions, with connections to specialist funding consultants for members.
• Scotland Loves Local Gift Card Programme Gift card programme that keeps spending local, supporting businesses within communities across Scotland as part of the Scotland Loves Local national campaign.
• Improvement Districts Network Scotland's network of improvement districts that foster the development and continued success of Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) across Scotland, supporting place managers and levy-paying businesses.
• Scotland Loves Local Awards Annual awards programme celebrating Scotland's towns and neighbourhoods, recognising remarkable dedication, innovation and commitment towards shaping a sustainable, successful future with localism at its heart.

Quantifiable outcome

• 53.9% of Scotland's population live in towns, most in places of 1,000-50,000 people
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ARRO Lighting and EventscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerARRO Lighting and Events specialises in bespoke lighting installations for public spaces, events and seasonal programmes. They have over 20 years experience delivering high-end lighting projects including Christmas lighting campaigns for Dundee City Council and iconic installations in Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow.
• Business StreamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the largest water retailers in the UK, trusted retailer to over 300,000 businesses. Headquartered in Edinburgh with around 300 employees, providing billing, water efficiency support and water/wastewater management solutions.
• Collective ArchitecturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst 100% Scottish employee-owned architecture practice established to pursue themes of participation and sustainability in architecture. Over 25 years of successful UK projects with specialist sustainable division 'Collective Energy'.
• Historic Environment ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic body responsible for investigating, caring for and promoting Scotland's historic environment. Board member Alison Turnbull serves as Director of Development and Partnership at HES.
• Keep Britain TidycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading independent environmental charity working to inspire, educate and enable environmental value through campaigns including Eco-Schools, Green Flag Award for parks, Great British Spring Clean and Blue Flag awards.
• LoqivacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-based company behind the Digital Town Hub - an all-in-one software platform helping local places thrive with features for residents, visitors, local businesses and place managers. Board member Marcus Chidgey is CEO of Loqiva.
• ScotRailcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScotland's national railway network connecting communities and supporting businesses across the country. ScotRail invests in regeneration of disused railway buildings as galleries, shops and spaces for communities.
• MRI OnLocation (Springboard)coreTechnology or IntegrationLeading provider of retail data analytics, retail traffic counting, and customer sentiment tracking for brands, shopping centres and high-streets worldwide. Provides footfall analytics and insights.
• SURF (Scotland's Regeneration Forum)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScotland's Regeneration Forum. STP sponsors the annual SURF Awards 'Improving Scotland's Places Category'.
• Threesixty ArchitecturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScottish architectural practice leading high street and urban centre regeneration. Named Scotland's Architecture Practice of the Year 24/25. Developed 'A Vision for High Street Regeneration' manifesto with STP.
• VicinitycoreTechnology or IntegrationAll-in-one place management platform for Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and local authorities providing CRM, place apps, ballot tools, and automated reporting and insights.
• VisitScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScotland's national tourism organisation. Board member Caroline Warburton serves as Destination Development Director (Central & North East) at VisitScotland.
• Zero Waste ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeads Scotland to use products and resources more responsibly. Partnered with STP to develop the Circular Communities Toolkit featuring sustainable initiatives for towns and communities.
• University of StirlingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard Chair Professor Leigh Sparks is Professor of Retail Studies and former Deputy Principal at University of Stirling. University plays central role in research and policy development.
• Scottish Futures TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVice Chair Mhairi Donaghy is Associate Director at Scottish Futures Trust working in Place, Housing and Economic Investment team. Has 30 years of towns and town centre research experience.
• Scottish Grocers' FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member Jamie Mackie assists with running Public Affairs Department, developing policy and implementing Public Affairs Plan. Represents local shops at heart of communities.
• Scottish GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrusted partner of Scottish Government. STP facilitated TCAP Forum jointly established by Scottish Government and CoSLA. Responsible for key government initiatives including Town Centre Action Plan Review (TCAP2).
• CoSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint response from Scottish Government and CoSLA to 'A New Future for Scotland's Towns' report. Co-delivers TCAP Forum for driving town centre actions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO): Scotland's national membership body for charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises; comparable in being a Scotland-wide membership collective for third sector bodies with policy influence and member services.
• Carnegie UK: UK-wide charitable trust focused on wellbeing and place-based policy with research, advocacy and convening — overlapping with STP's research, Place Standard and policy influence work, but with broader thematic scope.
• Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES): UK think-and-do tank advocating for progressive local economic strategy and place-based investment; comparable to STP's town regeneration advocacy and policy role, with deeper policy research capacity.
• Centre for Cities: UK urban economics think tank producing city-level data and policy research; comparable to STP's USP data and advocacy function but with a city (rather than town) focus and a broader UK remit.

Regional players

• Keep Scotland Beautiful: Scotland-based environmental charity running campaigns and awards (similar to STP's Scotland Loves Local Awards) on sustainable places; comparable in geography, awards model and partnership with Keep Britain Tidy.

Direct peers

• Plunkett Foundation: UK membership organisation supporting rural and community-owned businesses including village halls, shops and pubs; comparable to STP's community-led regeneration work and member-based support model.
• Association of Town & City Management (ATCM): UK-wide membership association for place management professionals, BIDs and local authorities — the closest direct analogue to STP, addressing the same constituency but across the whole UK rather than Scotland only. STP's board member Adrian Watson is National Chair for Scotland of ATCM.
• Scotland's Regeneration Forum (SURF): Scotland's regeneration forum championing community regeneration policy and practice; STP is a strategic partner and sponsor of the SURF Awards 'Improving Scotland's Places Category', making SURF a tightly overlapping peer on policy and convening.
• Locality: UK-wide membership network for community-led organisations, development trusts and social enterprises — directly comparable to STP's community groups, third sector and development trust members, with similar advocacy, training and convening functions.

Emerging players

• Power to Change: Independent trust supporting community businesses across England, with research, funding and policy advocacy. Overlaps with STP's development trust and community-led regeneration remit but is more capital-rich and England-focused.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/scotlandstowns
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ScotlandsTownsPartnership/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/scotlandstown
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scotland's-towns-partnership
• Instagraminstagram.com/scotlandstowns

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries5 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 Scotland's Towns Partnership