New shared office for SNH and SEPA in Newton Stewart

SNH’s chairman, Ian Ross, officially opened the new cost-sharing venture this morning with SEPA chief executive, Terry A’Hearn.

The office, located on the edge of Newton Stewart, brings together two public bodies with shared interests, as well as supporting Scottish Government’s drive for public bodies to deliver environmental and efficiency savings by sharing office space and facilities. The building has been occupied by six SNH staff since 2000, and has recently been redeveloped to house up to 10 SEPA staff as well. SEPA staff has moved from their old premises about a mile away.

Ian Ross commented, “I’m delighted to open this new shared office, as our two organisations already work closely together and sharing office space will help foster even more cooperation and partnership. Sharing office space means that we can offer a more effective service to customers, developers, land and site managers, local authorities and communities. Bringing staff together into one office will also help reduce costs and increase energy efficiency.”

Terry A'Hearn, SEPA's chief executive, added, "This latest move is a fantastic opportunity for both our staff to work more cohesively together, whilst delivering on the cost savings that all agencies are seeking to achieve over the next few years. Our staff already enjoy the benefits of co-location in Stirling and Aberdeen and I would be keen to take advantage of further opportunities which help to enhance our ability to protect and improve Scotland’s natural environment.”

As organisations responsible for protecting the environment, SEPA and SNH are keen to realise environmental and cost benefits. The internal offices were removed to create a larger, open plan space which SNH and SEPA now share. Costs are being shared on a 50:50 basis, reducing the previous costs for each organisation by about 50 per cent. Energy costs and carbon dioxide emissions have also been cut by 50 per cent. As well, the property had solar panels fitted three years ago.

SNH’s Southern Scotland unit manager, Chris Miles, added: “In South Scotland, we have a lot of work in common with SEPA. We’ve already worked together on the River Bladnoch Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and other protected areas, as well as on extensive renewable developments. Being in the same office as our SEPA colleagues will make sure we have a joined-up service that best serves the people, nature and the environment in south west Scotland.”

SNH have been at the forefront of public sector collocations. In the last four years, SNH’s move to shared offices has resulted in cumulative operating savings of over £800,000.

ENDS

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Contact SNH media officer, Vicki Mowat, on 0131 316 2659 or vicki.mowat@snh.gov.uk (Fri) or the SNH main press office on 01463 725 022.