The Heritage Building Skills Programme
This major project in the North of England is passing endangered heritage construction skills to the next generation and restoring historic buildings.
The programme aims to
- reduce shortages in heritage construction skills
- improve historic sites in urgent need of repair
- create career opportunities for disadvantaged young people
Please consider supporting our salaried traineeships, which provide participants with invaluable hands-on experience working on historic buildings, as well as training and mentoring by Historic England staff and sector experts, who teach a variety of technical skills in different disciplines and pass their knowledge on to the next generation.
Get in touch with us to find out more: [email protected]
The programme so far
Since 2021 we have been delighted to work with dozens of participants across the different tiers of the programme, from entry-level building college students and apprentices to more experienced specialist craftspeople honing a new skill.
The programme is supporting apprentices to learn a wide range of specialist heritage techniques in trades such as:
- bricklaying
- carpentry
- joinery
- millwrights
- mosaic and stained-glass conservation
- painting and decorating
- plastering
- roofing
- stonemasonry
Hear from one of our Participants
“It was a fantastic year and I met so many wonderful and interesting people, passionate and knowledgeable in their field. A very rare opportunity and employment experience I feel very grateful for. Thanks so much!” Trainee mosaicist, 2023
Summer School
The Summer School helps participants put the training element into practice via residential heritage construction training with specialists whilst providing much-needed repairs to important heritage sites. Summer School 2024 will take place in partnership with Churches Conservation Trust at the Church of St. John the Evangelist, a Heritage at Risk site in Lancashire.
This will enable participants to develop their skills, knowledge, and experience of working on complex, live, multi-trade construction sites, as well as gain new practical qualifications and connections within the industry.
