GrantRadar

Historic Environment Scotland

Historic Environment Grants Fund

Historic Environment Scotland's main open project fund, for projects of any size that relate to and benefit Scotland's historic environment, tangible or intangible: repairs, archaeology, traditional skills training, interpretation, outreach and management plans. Three streams by grant requested: Express (£1,000-£25,000, assessed on a rolling basis), Small (£25,001-£100,000) and Large (£100,001-£750,000), with Small and Large applications considered competitively at fixed deadlines. Expressions of interest are open all year. Repair grants usually cover up to 40% of eligible costs for charities and not-for-profits.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£1,000 – £750,000
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Heavy
budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

  • Mainly not-for-profit organisations: charities, local authorities, religious bodies, Community Interest Companies, or partnerships led by a not-for-profit (with a nominated lead applicant and a signed partnership agreement)
  • The lead applicant must be formally constituted with a clear governance and financial structure and its own bank account, preferably with a track record of managing a similar level of grant
  • Private owners and commercial organisations can apply but are unlikely to be a priority unless the public benefit clearly outweighs private gain (owner-occupied and other non-commercial thatching projects may be an exception)
  • All applicants must show financial need
  • For physical works you must own the asset or hold a full repairing lease with at least 20 years to run (with exceptions for ancient monuments and places of worship where the owner gives written permission), and appoint a Conservation Accredited Professional; archaeological fieldwork needs a CIfA-accredited lead archaeologist
  • Employers must meet Fair Work First requirements, including paying the real Living Wage
  • Projects must relate to Scotland's historic environment

What it funds

Projects that clearly relate to an historic environment asset (tangible or intangible) and contribute to HES Grants Priorities, for example:

  • Repair and consolidation of historic buildings and ancient monuments
  • Interim works (maximum £50,000 grant)
  • Archaeological work
  • Traditional skills and training
  • Outreach and interpretation
  • Management plans
  • Thatch repair, including routine maintenance of thatched roofs

a project can combine several activities if they all link to the same main project. Eligible direct costs are funded; some third-sector organisations may also receive indirect costs (approved overheads).

What it will not fund

  • Acquisition
  • Work resulting from an event that should be insurable
  • Recoverable VAT or VAT grant-aided by other funders
  • Projects without public benefit and clear links to HES Grants Priorities
  • Development work such as condition surveys
  • Work that has already started before you apply (except your professional adviser's design of the agreed scheme of work, or as agreed with the HES Grants Team)
  • New-build work, including building adaptation, extension or alteration, except agreed climate mitigation measures or minor new construction at ancient monuments for access or protection
  • Internal fit-out and the repair or installation of services (except ancillary works confirmed as eligible)
  • Routine maintenance and minor repairs of buildings, except thatched roofs
  • Demolition
  • Post-excavation analysis, publication or dissemination of archaeology projects begun without HES involvement
  • Archaeological investigation at HES properties in care
  • Repairs to moveable assets, including maritime vessels and railway vehicles (carved stones are eligible)
  • General operational or core running costs
  • Organisations that are insolvent or in financial difficulty
  • Projects funded by a City Heritage Trust or another HES funding programme

How to apply

  1. Read the fund guidance and contact grants@hes.scot to discuss your project if useful
  2. Submit an expression of interest (EOI) on the HES Grants Portal, saying which stream you are applying to; EOIs are open all year and HES aims to respond within 10 working days
  3. If your EOI is approved, submit a full application on the portal with the required supporting documents: Express applications at any time; Small grants by 31 August or 31 December; Large grants by 30 June, 31 October or 28 February
  4. Applications are assessed on heritage significance, grants priorities, financial need and value for money, deliverability and sustainability
  5. Do not start work until funding is confirmed

typical grant rates for repair projects are up to 40% of eligible costs for charities and not-for-profits, 25% for local authorities and 33% for private and commercial owners; above 50% is highly unlikely.

Have ready

  • Audited or accountant-verified accounts for the three previous financial years
  • Financial statement declaring all income, investments and savings (private owners)
  • Governing document (depending on applicant type)
  • Fair Work First Declaration and supporting evidence (all employers)
  • Activity Plan (Small and Large grants)
  • Budget Profile
  • Job descriptions or consultant briefs (where applicable)
  • Project risk register (Large grants)
  • Condition report and elemental breakdown of estimated costs (repair grants)
  • Costed project design (archaeology grants)
  • Images of the asset, including areas proposed for repair

a partnership agreement, letters of support, business plan, consents and other documents are optional; the guidance appendix lists them.

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