Scotland’s Environmental and Rural Services

The Sears partnership was launched at the Royal Highland Show in June 2008. It brings together nine public bodies aiming to provide Scotland’s rural land managers, with an efficient and effective service.

The SEARS partners are:

• Animal Health
• Cairngorms National Park Authority
• Crofters Commission
• Deer Commission for Scotland
• Forestry Commission Scotland
• Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority
• Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)
• Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate
• Scottish Natural Heritage

Key achievements include:

• Fewer inspections.
• Savings to the sheep farming industry in annual groundwater licence charge waivers.
• Office co-locations around Scotland.

SEARS will mark this first anniversary by publishing its first annual review at this year’s Royal Highland Show. The full report will be launched on Friday 26 June 2009, by Environment Minister, Roseanna Cunningham MSP.

The review will be a broad assessment of: SEARS’ achievements since the partnership working began and how SEARS has been received by staff and customers. The review will also look ahead to the future and how SEARS can develop further.

Rural land managers can expect annual savings of approximately £133,000 as a result of efficiencies delivered from more co-ordinated visits and inspections by SEARS.

One door any door provides easy access to information and advice from SEARS partners through:

• The SEARS customer service number - 08452 30 20 50
• This web site
• Contacting any of the partner's offices.

Provided the topic is covered by one of the SEARS partner organisations, you can speak to someone in any of the organisations and you will:

• receive a reply;
• be put in touch with the appropriate person working for one of the SEARS partners
• be contacted by the appropriate person within 2 working days.

We aim to provide a consistent and responsive service, so SEARS partners will operate a common and transparent customer care standard and SEARS staff will have knowledge and experience beyond their normal organisational boundary.

Regular updates can be found on our News page.