Geospatial experts within the Scottish Government now have access to membership benefits from the Association for Geographic Information.

The Scottish Government has signed a collective membership agreement with the UK-based Association for Geographic Information (AGI).

The first-of-its-kind agreement, which is centrally funded, will enable Scottish members of the Public Sector Geospatial Agreement (PSGA) to access the member benefits and resources offered by the AGI.

The AGI is the membership group for organisations and individuals working in the geospatial sector throughout the UK.

The four-year deal encompasses nearly 150 public sector organisations, ranging from central Scottish Government departments to community councils.

The Scottish Government, as sponsor of the agreement, will become an AGI Partner, giving it strategic engagement with AGI governance and policy groups, with other qualifying organisations joining at Associate Level, providing access for all employees to AGI events, activities and networks.

Promoting knowledge exchange

The agreement is the result of efforts from AGI Scotland and the Scottish Government’s Geospatial Management Board, the governing body representing Scottish members of the PSGA, led by the Geographic Information Science and Analysis Team.

“We have taken the lead in facilitating unlimited membership of the AGI for Scottish PSGA qualifying organisations,” said Alan Corbett, Head of Geospatial at the Scottish Government.

“It will promote collaborative working and knowledge exchange, support digital transformation by helping to reduce duplication, and build capacity in the Scottish geospatial community.”

The UK-wide geospatial sector is valued at £6 billion per annum, a conservative estimate which excludes large multi-national technology companies.

The sector employs nearly 40,000 people and has attracted at least £1.2 billion in investment between 2013 and 2024.

“We are committed to providing relevant events, mutual support, networking opportunities, and career development that are available and accessible to all,” said Bruce Gittings, Chair of AGI Scotland and Senior Lecturer in Geographic Information at the University of Edinburgh.