NEW bullying and racism allegations have rocked the crisis-hit Historic Environment Scotland.
The quango, responsible for hundreds of historic properties including Edinburgh Castle, has been rocked by a series of controversies in recent years.
Last year, the body faced allegations of corruption and an internal racism row.
It was also reported that a senior leader at the organisation was sanctioned for allegedly “twerking” in front of actor Martin Compston.
Meanwhile, a report by the auditor general in 2025 found it had “unacceptable weaknesses” in leadership. It said HES lacked “sufficiently robust policies” in place to mitigate the risk of fraud.
But now, The Scotsman has reported that a former senior member of staff is taking the quango to an employment tribunal.
In a 12-page statement, a senior HR manager had made allegations against numerous senior members of staff – including that she was sidelined and undermined due to her race.
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“What has unravelled [at HES] is something I have never experienced in my 22 years working as an HR professional,” she said – claiming that two senior figures tried to interfere in a HR investigation alleging racism against then operations director Craig Mearns, who has since left the organisation.
The former employee – who left in June – also claimed that a senior member of staff also asked whether she knew the then government minister Kaukab Stewart – the insinuation being that all Asian people know each other.
The statement reads: “All the above demonstrates a culture of trying to cover up or downplay serious allegations and investigation in HES of senior people by allowing poor, discriminatory behaviour and activity.
“While all this is going on I have tried my best to ensure that HES as an organisation behaves above board following due process regardless of grade – as is expected of any organisation let alone a public sector one.”
The complaint adds: “We are treating our executive team with much lower standards to that of anyone else in HES.”
She went on: “Every time a serious case comes up with a senior person involved, the wellbeing of them is more of a concern than those affected by their actions.
“The systematic racism and sexism in HES are no longer, and never was, acceptable. I feel completely unsafe, exposed, vulnerable and anxious about working at HES.”
The complainant asked that she be “treated as an equal regardless of my ethnicity and gender”.
A spokeswoman for Historic Environment Scotland said: “It would not be appropriate to comment in detail on matters that are now the subject of ongoing legal proceedings.”
“However, HES rejects any suggestion that concerns of this nature were ignored. The allegations were examined through multiple stages of review and investigation and were considered through a number of formal processes.
“As an organisation, we remain committed to maintaining a respectful, inclusive and safe working environment for all staff, and we take that responsibility very seriously.”
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