Podcasts
We're podcasting! Subscribe to our series here for the latest news, views and in-depth interviews from around Scotland's canal network. You can also find a library of episodes below.
Money Talk: How are Scotland's canals funded?
Scotland's canal network is funded using a mix of public money and self-generated income (almost half of its annual budget, and counting...). In this episode of the podcast that captures conversations from around the organisation and among its many partners, Amy is joined by three colleagues:
- Richard Millar, Chief Operating Officer
- Sarah Jane Hannah, Director of Finance & Governance
- And Chris O'Connell, Heritage Manager, who provides a historical feature, taking us back to the many adventures in financing the early canal network
You'll learn about:
- The Smart Canal, an innovative way of using the canals to create new public benefits, help mitigate the impacts of climate change, and free up brownfield sites for new housing.
- How Scottish Canals generates its own revenue and plans to increase that share of its funding
- How the network's funding model compares to those in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland
- And the tie-ins to fibre optics, energy, tourism, commercial real estate, and more...
This episode was released on 20th May 2025.
Meet the CEO of Scottish Canals
In this podcast, you'll get to know more about John Paterson, Chief Executive Officer at Scottish Canals, and his vision for the canal network. We start at the beginning when John was playing in a pipe band more than 25 years ago and witnessed a historic moment for Scotland's canals. Released on 20th February 2025.