Communication, Marketing & Community Engagement.

“I believe the way something is said can be just as powerful as the message itself.” - Lucy Laidlaw

Lucy Laidlaw is a communications, marketing, and community engagement consultant based in Scotland, with over 15 years’ experience across the agriculture, forestry, tourism, property, and energy sectors.

Clear, thoughtful communication can distinguish between a project that connects and one that falls flat. Taking the time to understand your audience, craft the right message, and choose the right moment to share it is essential, and I can help.

I understand the pressures facing organisations, particularly small and medium-sized teams juggling multiple priorities. That’s why I tailor my support to fit your capacity, timescales, and budget, without compromising impact.

Community engagement is at the heart of my work and I’ve had the privilege of supporting organisations such as the Scottish Land Commission and Scottish Land & Estates to shape and share best practice across Scotland’s land sector.

Learn more about our work through our case studies.

What can I do for you?

  • Review your current communication approach​

  • Create and implement communication strategies

  • Develop integrated marketing strategies

  • Identify your key stakeholders​

  • Engage with stakeholders on your behalf

  • Act as an impartial third party in negotiations

  • Create engaging content for print and digital

  • Manage your reputation​

  • Practical Implementation of the Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement

  • Develop Land Management Plans for land owning businesses

Services

Community Engagement Planning

Whether you’re managing a rural estate, developing a land management plan, or responding to new policy requirements, a strong community engagement plan is essential.

I work alongside clients to design and deliver bespoke engagement strategies that reflect local context and build long-term relationships with communities. My approach is grounded, inclusive, and aligned with Scottish Government expectations, including the Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement (LRRS) and guidance from the Scottish Land Commission.

Services include:

  • Designing and facilitating community consultation processes

  • Developing engagement plans for Local Place Plans and land use changes

  • Supporting estates to meet good practice under LRRS

  • Working with diverse stakeholders to ensure voices are heard

Land Management Plans & Engagement

Rural land use is under increasing scrutiny, and with that comes a growing need for clarity, transparency, and collaboration. I support estates and landowners in developing strategic land management plans that reflect operational priorities and wider community or policy expectations.

I bring together expertise in stakeholder engagement and policy communication, ensuring genuine engagement with those impacted by my land use decisions is taken into account in Land Management Plans to help shape land management plans that are practical and future-facing.

Services include:

  • Facilitating workshops and strategic planning sessions

  • Drafting or reviewing land management plans

  • Supporting landowners through land use change or diversification

  • Aligning land use strategies with public policy and community interest

Community Engagement Training

I offer tailored training to build confidence, capacity and competence in community engagement, whether you’re a land manager, land-based business, or part of a wider project delivery group.

My training is practical, scenario-based and designed specifically for rural and island contexts. It draws on real-world experience of what works (and what doesn’t) when consulting communities across Scotland.

Topics covered:

  • Principles of meaningful community engagement

  • Planning and delivering inclusive consultations

  • Navigating difficult conversations and legacy issues

  • Aligning with LRRS, good practice guidance and the incoming Land Reform (Scotland) Bill

Communications and Marketing for Rural Organisations

Clear, confident communication is central to building trust, whether you’re launching a new project, consulting on change, or shaping how your business is understood by the people it impacts.

I help organisations tell their stories in a way that reflects their values, builds credibility, and connects meaningfully with communities, partners, and policymakers.

Services include:

  • Communications strategy and message development

  • Branding and positioning support for estates and rural businesses

  • Public-facing campaigns around land use change or development

  • Copywriting for reports, consultation materials, websites and more

Who I Work With

logos for Scottish Land and Estates, Renewables Connect, Crown Estate Scotland, Bell ingram, Jackson Distillers, Penicuik Estate, Mount Stuart Trust, ICF, Forest Direct,

  • Private estates and landowners

  • Farms

  • Public bodies and agencies

  • Environmental NGOs

  • Community development trusts

  • Renewable energy developers

  • Foresters

  • Housing developers

  • Planning and architecture firms

  • Commercial and Residential Property Developers

  • Charities and trusts

Let’s Talk

If you need support with a specific engagement challenge, need to build internal skills through training, or simply want to communicate more clearly with the people your land or project affects, I’d be happy to help.

Contact me to arrange a conversation, or check out recent projects to see what’s possible.