Inspiring environmental and heritage action with new Certificate in Cultural Heritage

Community groups across Scotland caring for heritage, creating and conducting guided tours, and investigating how climate change is impacting on heritage can now achieve national accreditation.

We've launched a new Certificate in Cultural Heritage, credit rated by Qualifications Scotland, as part of the Our Heritage, Our Future programme.

The aim of the qualification is to support people to understand the importance of our built, natural and cultural heritage in Scotland, develop specific heritage-related skills and celebrate success of all candidates.

Lisa Snedden, Our Heritage, Our Future Coordinator said: “We are excited to be able to offer this new Qualifications Scotland credit rated training programme to explore, enhance and celebrate local community action which is being taken to tackle environmental and heritage challenges across the country.

“The new national accreditation will support people to highlight their successes and amplify their voices in this area. We are pleased to already be working within the heritage environment to help people complete units of the course and would encourage anyone in Scotland with an interest in finding out more to get in touch.”

To complete the Certificate in Cultural Heritage all candidates must complete the mandatory unit – Sharing Heritage Stories and three others from the following list:

• caring for heritage
• creating and conducting guided tours
• creating exhibitions and displays
• exploring identity, diversity and representation
• impacts of climate change on heritage
• preparing for heritage volunteering
• recording the heritage environment

There is also an option to complete individual units. A number of communities are already working with us on one of the eight units, rated as SCQF level 5 or 6, which make up the qualification, including members of Clackmannanshire Economic Regeneration Trust in Alloa who are undertaking the Preparing for Heritage Volunteering Unit and completed their training last week with a volunteering session at the Japanese Garden - see picture above.

The Scottish Maritime Museum in Irvine is supporting the community to develop a Community Heritage Climate Action Plan alongside working towards the Impacts of Climate Change on Heritage Unit.

Whilst in Strathaven, the Creating and Conducting Guided Tours Unit is being taken by members of the Rural Development Trust as part of its Make Your Way programme.

The Certificate in Cultural Heritage is the first qualification to be SCQF credit rated under the Qualifications Scotland name and was formally approved on 5 March 2026.

Natalie Tweedie, Customised Awards and Credit Rating Manager, said: “SCQF credit rating allows learner achievement to be formally recognised within national and European frameworks, giving learners, employers and education providers confidence that qualifications meet recognised standards.

“It’s fantastic to see the third-party credit rating service continue to grow under Qualifications Scotland, and the Certificate in Cultural Heritage is a strong example of how customers can gain formal recognition for bespoke learning.”

If you or your community group would like to find out more about the Certificate in Cultural Heritage get in touch with communities@keepscotlandbeautiful.org or visit www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/ourheritageourfuture

Our Heritage, Our Future is made possible with funding from Historic Environment Scotland and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players.