National Mining Museum Scotland: FOI release

Information requested

1. In 2025 what funds has the Scottish Government allocated to the National Mining Museum Scotland?

2. What mechanisms, with timeframe, has the Scottish Government put in place to improve the governance of the National Mining Museum Scotland?

3. When and in what way will the National Mining Museum Scotland become accountable to the people of Scotland.

Response

1. In 2025 what funds has the Scottish Government allocated to the National Mining Museum Scotland?

I have interpreted your question to cover funding allocated to the National Mining Museum Scotland in the financial year of 2024/25 which covers January to March 2025.

The National Mining Museum Scotland received a standard grant of £430k resource and £33k capital in 2024/25.

The National Mining Museum Scotland were provided with an additional £300k one-off grant to support the museum to transition to a more sustainable model.

2. What mechanisms, with timeframe, has the Scottish Government put in place to improve the governance of the National Mining Museum Scotland?

The Scottish Government applied the following grant conditions to the £300k 2024/25 uplift which specifically references governance. Scottish Government is monitoring the National Mining Museum Scotland’s adherence and delivery of the following grant conditions with a three-year action plan expected in April 2025.

Grant conditions

1. Evidence of full Board engagement and agreement to the Community Enterprise report with agreed plan of action based on evidence and proposed scenarios. The Board should submit a simple three-year action plan showing how this investment will be the catalyst to a more sustainable model in the medium to long term. This is likely to involve changes to service delivery, staffing, museum development and the potential to liquidate assets where feasible.
2. Agreement that a Change Manager/ Senior Leader post is needed to provide strategic leadership and improved governance to support corporate capacity and the CEO, ensuring the Board is able to focus on its strategic oversight responsibilities.
3. Monthly updates from NMMS leadership to the Funder’s Stakeholder Group (SG, NLHF, Community Enterprise, MGS with input from Midlothian Council), based on transparency, honesty, and open communication.
4. Based on the Community Enterprise Board skills review, the skills gap identified should be met imminently to supplement the strategic direction of the organisation. Community Enterprise cansupport the board to source some of this training and support:

• Social enterprise development – commercial skills in business development
• Procurement and tendering with a particular knowledge of tapping into employability, health and wellbeing contracts
• Asset management and sale of assets
• Marketing and profile raising
• Fundraising, membership, and corporate support packages
• Volunteer management

3. When and in what way will the National Mining Museum Scotland become accountable to the people of Scotland.

Scottish Ministers issue the Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM) to provide guidance on the proper handling and reporting of public funds. This includes agreed outcomes and conditions on Scottish Government funding. Outcomes are reviewed annually as part of grant due diligence process in dialogue with the grantee, this applies to the grants allocated to the National Mining Museum Scotland.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.