Built Environment Forum Scotland

Hello Bluesky! Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS) is Scotland’s umbrella body for the built environment—historic & contemporary. We draw on expert voices to inform debate & advocate on strategic issues, challenges & opportunities. Supported by HES. Learn more: www.befs.org.uk/

BEFS was pleased to join RICS Scotland at the Enterprise Forum’s Scottish Business Reception on Tuesday, hearing cross-sector leaders and the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport share their vision for the Scottish economy.

There are over 30 events and training opportunities coming up this October and November in BEFS Bulletin! From regeneration and sustainability to heritage science and building maintenance, there’s plenty to get involved in. See the full selection: https://bit.ly/4hYYjkP

BEFS is pleased to welcome the Scottish Castles Association (SCA) as a new Member! The SCA promotes the preservation, study and use of Scotland’s castles. They are currently developing a national archive of Scotland’s castles – learn more: https://bit.ly/4i4aJX9

Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic, has responded to a letter sent by BEFS Places of Worship Forum requesting clarity on the future of Scotland’s Places of Worship pilot fund. Read the Cabinet Secretary’s full response: https://bit.ly/4zNGmvy

💬 From outdoor access to hyperscale data centres, upcoming Scottish Parliament consultations seek views on a range of issues. Explore new consultation opportunities in BEFS Bulletin 406: https://bit.ly/4hYYjkP

BEFS Bulletin 406 is out now! This edition covers new consultations, sector skills and funding updates: https://bit.ly/4hYHPJj

🎧 Tune into Architecture & Design Scotland's podcast Value of Design; their latest episode explores the role of architecture in a world shaped by climate change, considering circular construction and material passports: https://bit.ly/4zaa8dp

The Scottish Government has announced increased funding for Modern Apprenticeships. Providers of apprenticeship places will see a 10% funding rise in 2027-28 - an £8.8 million uplift applying to all types of apprenticeship frameworks. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4yFiHNO

💭 Would you like to learn traditional skills or access professional development in the built environment sector? Apply now for Glasgow City Heritage Trust's training grants, open until the end of March 2027: https://bit.ly/4dkiWVL

🛠️ A new toolkit, released by Under One Roof in partnership with the University of Strathclyde, aims to help tenement owners form owners' associations to keep their buildings in good repair. Download it for free: https://bit.ly/4zi2Nss

📝 From traditional building maintenance to finance and fundraising, there are plenty of training opportunities coming up across the sector this October and November. See the details in BEFS Bulletin 405: https://bit.ly/4zESLlx

Is commercial-to-residential conversion a new model for climate resilient city building? An article discusses key learnings from Canadian retrofit exemplars: https://bit.ly/4cLU60F

💬 Share your views on HES's proposed updates to the Historic Environment Policy for Scotland, the national policy that guides decision-making affecting the historic environment. The public consultation closes on 3 December 2026: https://bit.ly/4B2XheM

As Heritage Careers Week (5-9 October) aimed to raise awareness of routes into the sector, HES’s latest Employers’ Skills Survey shows 8 in 10 heritage employers report skills gaps. Learn more about the skills gap and career pathways: https://bit.ly/4jKFe70

BEFS has responded to the National Lottery Good Causes Funding consultation, highlighting positive outcomes produced by National Lottery Heritage Fund project funding and noting its importance in a challenging context for delivery costs: https://bit.ly/4htoSya

SURF, Scotland's Regeneration Forum, has revealed the shortlist for the 2026 SURF Awards! 15 projects have been shortlisted across 5 categories, with Derek Rankine, BEFS Head of Policy, a judge for the Improving Scotland's Places category. Learn more: https://bit.ly/47AiS0J

BEFS Bulletin 405 is out now! Featuring news from the SURF Awards, plans for a new Retrofit Centre and BEFS response to the National Lottery Good Causes Funding consultation: https://bit.ly/4zESLlx

Tour guides, archaeologists, blacksmiths, stone masons and more - they all make up Scotland’s historic environment sector. SHEA 2026 shows that the historic environment produces 84,000+ full time equivalent jobs across the sector. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3UyvAKm

"Too many heritage buildings reach crisis before help arrives" - a key conclusion from a new report by BEFS Member Historic Houses, with recommendations relevant to Scotland. Read their exploration of 'at risk' heritage here: https://bit.ly/4rvSvSQ

How much vacant or derelict land is there in Scotland – and what has been done to bring it back to use? New statistics published by the Scottish Government reveal the extent and state of such land: https://bit.ly/3UOztuJ

🏰 The Scottish Castles Association is developing a national record of Scotland's castles, aiming to create an evidence base for education, conservation and decision-making. The launch will be marked by a fundraising dinner on 18 November 2026. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4AEpfxi

🏠 SHEA 2026 shows that £6.6bn is needed to convert Scotland's pre-1919 homes to be more sustainable. Explore the full findings on repair and maintenance: https://bit.ly/3UyvAKm

Research funded by BEFS Member the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland will help record, analyse and preserve Scotland's medieval carved stones – some housed in churches earmarked for closure and sale, making this research timely. Read more: https://bit.ly/4yFH9OE

HES's Centre of Excellence for Canals and Traditional Skills will host a new facility for the retrofit of traditional buildings, backing Scotland's net zero goals through a research-led approach. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4ALZHi7

🔧 £3.8bn in economic activity is attributable to the repair and maintenance of Scotland's pre-1919 buildings, supporting industry suppliers across the sector. Explore the findings in SHEA 2026: https://bit.ly/3UyvAKm

AI Data Centres have sparked debate across Scotland. Now, BEFS Member The Scottish Civic Trust has produced a guide on the topic. Read more: https://bit.ly/3T2OyYU

Scotland's Garden and Landscape Heritage is seeking a Trustee! If you have good knowledge of historic gardens, landscapes and the built environment, apply now to help protect this valuable aspect of Scotland's heritage. Apply by Thursday 15 October: https://bit.ly/3V5miWo

📋 Historic Environment Scotland is seeking views on future guidance for conservation area management, following updates on the withdrawal of PAN 71: Conservation Area Management and other planning publications. Have your say before 31 October: https://bit.ly/4cSrx1Q

🌱 Architecture & Design Scotland has announced two free climate events on 1 October 2026. Book now for Climate Clinic: Diagnosing and Treating the Built Environment (https://bit.ly/4cUWySL) and a community screening of People’s Emergency Briefing (https://bit.ly/4iB4pZh).

BEFS Bulletin 404 is in your inboxes now! Covering Scotland’s Historic Environment Audit (SHEA), conservation area guidance and the challenges facing heritage buildings. Read it here: https://bit.ly/4yeu5jo

🏰 Have you visited a historic site in Scotland? If so, you’ve helped to generate £2.3bn for Scotland’s economy through heritage tourism. Explore the vital economic role of heritage tourism in Scotland’s Historic Environment Audit 2026: https://bit.ly/3UyvAKm

It’s Scottish Archaeology Month! Celebrate Scotland’s heritage, history and archaeology with free or low-cost events taking place in every region in Scotland. See what’s coming up: https://bit.ly/4yAiMld

A Scottish Government consultation on Compulsory Sale and Lease Orders found that 69% of respondents agreed that councils should be able to instruct the sale of a property without its owner's permission: https://bit.ly/4yGCcFj

📈 Did you know that Scotland’s historic environment generates £6.1bn for the economy? New data collated in Scotland’s Historic Environment Audit 2026 (SHEA) shows the impact of the sector on the nation’s economy. Explore the figures further: https://bit.ly/3UyvAKm

Could an urban retrofit agenda offer a way to prioritise net zero within planning decision-making? A new publication in Planning Theory & Practice explores the issue: https://bit.ly/4qM7mbj

🗞️ Hot off the press! Historic Environment Scotland has published Our Past, Our Future (OPOF) Midpoint Report 2026, sharing achievements, learning and priorities emerging from the delivery of OPOF: https://bit.ly/4xns2be

Explore the impact of archives and recordkeeping on society at BEFS Associate Member Scottish Council of Archives’ Annual Conference 2026. Taking place on 3 November 2026: https://bit.ly/3SG5i8o

BEFS Bulletin 403 covers a range of consultation responses, with topics from the Scottish Parliament Public Service Reform to accelerating home-building in Scotland and compulsory sale and lease orders. Explore them here: https://bit.ly/4xuAYN3

Explore a range of events coming up in September and beyond in BEFS Bulletin, from Doors Open Days and Scottish Archaeology Month to practical webinars on heat pumps, managing common repairs and more: https://bit.ly/4xuAYN3

Breaking news! Scotland’s Historic Environment Audit (SHEA) 2026 was published today, providing evidence for the value of Scotland’s historic environment for our nation's economy, communities, and identity. Read it here: https://bit.ly/3UyvAKm

Màiri McAllan, the Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic, highights the HES pilot fund for Scotland’s Places of Worship in a response to a letter from the Places of Worship Forum. Read it in full: https://bit.ly/4zSEO4b.

💭 As workforce mobility in the construction industry changes, how could place-based skill strategies help meet regional demand? Lee Bryer, CITB Insights Manager, explores the opportunities here: https://bit.ly/4gHb818

Since the announcement of MHS in January 2026 CaCHE have interviewed stakeholders on what the function, scope, and purpose of the new Scottish housing agency should be. Read their action research paper here: https://bit.ly/4gkth4P

💬 Share what funding for heritage and other good causes mean to you! The UK Government seeks views on the National Lottery Fund distribution system. Closing 23 September 2026: https://bit.ly/4qNqYMe

🗞️Hot off the press! A new briefing from BEFS highlights Programme for Government commitments to built environment under the five priority themes of BEFS 2026 Manifesto. Read it here: https://bit.ly/4xAVvzD

Share your views! The Scottish Government seeks responses from professionals and the public on the Scottish Building Safety Levy – respond by 9 October 2026: https://bit.ly/45DGDEc

Historic Environment Scotland's new audit shows that only around 240 buildings in Scotland retain Angus flagstone roofs - highlighting the risk to regional identity and traditional roofing skills. Read more: https://bit.ly/3U7Y6SP

BEFS Bulletin 403 is out now! 📣 This edition covers the new Programme for Government, a call for views on the impact of National Lottery funding for heritage, and more: https://bit.ly/4xuAYN3

🔔The Scottish Government has confirmed that scoping work is underway for tenement reform. Read the full correspondence from the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Housing to the Tenement Maintenance Working Group: https://bit.ly/4zMF193

Do you own or help manage a tenement building? Learn how to mitigate the harm caused by silica dust at Under One Roof and Pvotal Consultancy’s webinar on Silica Dust in Tenements (25 September 2026): https://bit.ly/4zpoojD