RBGE as an organisation

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a charity and a Non Departmental Public Body (NDPB) sponsored and supported through Grant-in-Aid by the Scottish Government's Environment and Forestry Directorate (ENFOR).

It is governed by a Board of Trustees appointed by Scottish Ministers. The RBGE senior management team is headed by the Regius Keeper, Simon Milne.

The organisation comprises over 240 staff drawn from a variety of disciplines, contributing in many different ways to its overall objectives and functions. The Garden is organised into five areas: Science, Horticulture & Learning, Enterprise & Communications, Resources & Planning and Development with the Leaders Group supporting the Regius Keeper.

RBGE also has a legal status as an academic institution.

How we are financed

Scottish Government's Environment and Forestry Directorate (ENFOR) is our sponsor department and as such provides income as Grant-in-Aid. As a registered charity, we raise funds from trusts and foundations and from corporate supporters. In addition we rely on donations from the public and through membership fees. We generate trading income from the shops at the four Gardens; and obtain income from investments, education courses and admission charges at the Regional Gardens, events, publishing, exhibitions and other sources. We also raise income across several other sources including consultancy work and research and capital grants. For a detailed breakdown of our income, please read the “How we are financed” information sheet.

Vision

A world that increasingly values, protects and benefits from plants

Mission

To explore, conserve and explain the world of plants for a better future

Strategic Objectives

Unlocking knowledge and understanding of plants and fungi to benefit society by increasing understanding of plant biodiversity, with scientific evidence supporting solutions for sustainable development and halting biodiversity loss

Protecting and developing the National Botanical Collections as a global scientific and cultural heritage resource by ensuring the Collections are secured for future generations and Scotland and the world increasingly benefits from their access and use to develop nature-based solutions to climate change

Enrichment and empowerment of individuals and communities through learning and engagement with plants and fungi and enhancing livelihoods, skills and wellbeing of communities in Scotland and around the world

Enabling Objectives

To be effective and efficient in managing and developing our staff and volunteers, financial resources, estate and infrastructure, profile and health and safety at work

To be environmentally sustainable in our operations

The development of the RBGE Corporate Plan 2020-2025 has been delayed as we assess the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on our work and the operation of RBGE. In light of this we are undertaking a detailed review of our strategic objectives to ensure that they continue to be fit for purpose to meet the Scottish Government’s objectives and to address the emerging challenges in biosecurity and in the protection of our irreplaceable national collections.

We have produced an interim Operational Delivery Plan for 2020/21. The Corporate Plan for 2020 to 2025 will follow later in the year.

Complaints and Comments

If you have a complaint we would like to hear from you to help us develop as an organisation (select 'Secretariat')