CASE STUDY

The National Trust for Scotland Portfolio Review

The SIT has been designed to be flexible and adaptable. An example of how the SIT might be used is demonstrated by The National Trust for Scotland’s Portfolio Review.

The Portfolio Review, undertaken by BEFS in partnership with the National Trust for Scotland, examines the Trust portfolio, looking at what the Trust owns, how it is used, and what benefits can be realised for the future. Within this process a holistic framework (based on the SIT), using Trust data and knowledge, was developed to show those values, ultimately providing a simple visualisation of complex data and understanding..

This project was undertaken to better understand the Trust’s estate and the values attributed to its assets, and to develop new thinking about how to best implement the Trust’s charitable purpose.

Values Framework
The NTS review shares substantial new thinking about a values framework which allows the Trust to clearly map out conservation, engagement and sustainability values for each place or asset. The framework is informed by various national Sustainable Development Goals and sector expertise and helps illustrate where the Trust’s activity at their properties is directly relevant to the organisation’s strategic aims.

Adapted from aspects of the SIT, the Insights: Values Framework report gives examples of where the values framework has been applied across a wide selection of assets, providing the Trust with new understanding across the portfolio. Assets are often of more value when considered collectively – the whole tells a richer story than the sum of the parts.

Download the NTS report here