Join BEFS

BEFS draws together extensive expertise and knowledge on Scotland’s historic and contemporary environment in a membership-led forum. Our vision is for a strong historic and existing built environment sector in Scotland. One that is informed, that can debate issues in a constructive way, that can demonstrate its impact, that can advocate for good outcomes on the ground. Our role is to support practitioners in addressing, together, the strategic issues and challenges facing Scotland’s built environment.

Being a BEFS Member means having the opportunities to…

… share and develop perspectives on delivering strategic policy issues and improving practice.

… shape legislation and policy priorities in a collaborative way, enabling improved management of the historic environment for public benefit and to ensure successful, sustainable, place-making.

BEFS work is directed by our charitable objectives and led by our Membership.

ADVOCACY

• We respond to both governmental (Scottish and UK) and non-governmental policy consultations relevant to the sectors we represent – providing a vital channel for sector coordination.
• We lobby the interests of our Members in Parliament and with Ministers, taking a holistic approach evidencing the deeply interconnected nature of our Members’ work.

Our high-level advocacy is impactful – we undertake workshops and consultations informing consultation responses; where necessary cross-sectoral, interdisciplinary task forces are formed to address ongoing issues. Majority views, and points of divergence, on challenges and opportunities facing the historic environment are reflected back to decision-makers via cross-party groups, the OPOF Steering Group, and individual lobbying with MSPs (BEFS is a registered Lobbying organisation).

CONNECTION

• We provide secretariat, facilitation, and support for our Working Groups to share knowledge and experience:

The Conservation Officers Group (COG) for those working with the historic environment in Local and Planning Authorities – represented by all 32 local authorities and National Parks

The Places of Worship Forum (POWF) – 35 Members comprising owners, funders, and advisors addressing strategic pathways for places of worship

BEFS Members are also invited to join the Historic Environment Working Group (HEWG), offering opportunities to participate in unique cross-functional conferences, workshops, and other projects.

• The expertise of our membership network is wide and spans traditional skills, sustainable investment, tenement maintenance, repair and retrofit, planning, archaeology, surveyorship, and more – we connect the sectors we work with to sustain meaningful connections and collaborate to achieve our shared targets.
• The place of BEFS as an experienced, independent body able to encourage cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary working in a collaborative way benefits the resilience of the historic environment, providing an invaluable point of contact for those in aligned policy fields; amplifying the work of all in the sector.
• BEFS is a trusted conduit for information and communicates via a range of social media channels. BEFS publishes a bi-weekly Bulletin which Members are invited to contribute items to, such as news, vacancies, CPD opportunities. The Bulletin is also your trusted source for relevant upcoming consultations and sector news – we gather and collate information and research on the latest developments in national and international policy and practice affecting the historic environment. BEFS monitors all Scottish parliamentary activity and comments on matters relating to and affecting the historic environment. BEFS Bulletin has over 1000 subscribers and is shared widely beyond its subscribership, too.

DEVELOPMENT

• We are part of the steering group for Scotland’s strategy for the historic environment – Our Past, Our Future (OPOF) – informing delivery and advocacy, as well as consulting Historic Environment Scotland across the OPOF priority areas.
• BEFS has an explicit focus on delivering Net Zero for the historic environment via our Net Zero Lead, as a proactive driver towards solutions for Scotland. BEFS is well placed to bring together and support a sector increasingly tasked with demonstrating solutions, consolidating efforts to deliver against ambitious climate targets.
• We provide our Membership with the tools to evidence the needs of the existing and built historic environment. We do this through identifying skills gaps, sharing international good practice and case studies, sector recommendations, and route maps and interactive tools available for all.

On behalf of our Members BEFS makes the case that: the built and historic environment is interconnected across the diverse and manifold policy agendas our sector contributes to – environment, tourism, education, heritage, communities, places, housing and many, many more. Care, reuse, and understanding of the built and historic environment can deliver for Scotland and our national targets.