The Company
The Scottish Tourist Guides Association is a company limited by guarantee (SC167477) with a voluntary Board of Directors, alongside an office in Stirling with professional staff.
Directors are elected by the membership, nominated by their Branches, or co-opted on the Executive Board.
After over 30 years of guiding and training tourist guides in Scotland, the STGA were formally incorporated in 1996.
STGA Membership
Currently, the STGA has approximately 500 members.
- Ordinary Members: Blue Badge Guides
- Regional Affiliates: Green Badge Guides, who are qualified to guide in specific areas of Scotland
- Site Affiliates: Yellow Badge Guides, who are qualified to guide in specific sites or fixed routes
- Student Members: Students training for either Blue or Green Badges
- Non-practising Members: A guide who is not currently working
- Retired Ordinary Members: Blue Badge Guides who have retired
- Honorary Members: Individuals who have given outstanding service to the STGA
- Associates: organisations who wish to be associated with STGA
Honorary President
Sandy Maxwell-Forbes – Director, The Great Tapestry of Scotland
Honorary Members
The following individuals have been granted honorary life membership of STGA for outstanding service to the company:
- Kevin Connelly
- Dr Con Gillen
- Mike Williamson
The Coat of Arms
The STGA’s Coat of Arms is a dark blue shield, with a saltire at the top and thistle at the bottom.
This symbol guarantees quality and professionalism, with its use being protected by the Lord Lyon King of Arms and his court.
Training Accreditation
The Scottish Tourist Guides Association in Scotland and the Institute of Tourist Guiding in England and Wales accredit courses for professional Blue Badge, Green Badge and Yellow Badge tourist guides, and set the standard, qualification requirements and accreditation for professional tourist guides.
In Scotland the STGA is recognised as the membership association for professional, qualified and accredited tourist guides by the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) and the European Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (FEG)
