To help address the high skills needs currently being encouraged in the heritage sector, a new Traditional Building Skills Bursary Scheme has been launched, with the first trainee placement now in post in the Works Department at York Minister.

The four year Traditional Building Skills Bursary Scheme, worth £1 million, is being largely funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (£900,000) and is being run in partnership with ConstructionSkills, the National Heritage Training Group (NHTG), English Heritage, The National Trust and Cadw.

The scheme is designed to assist both craftspeople with transferable skills and knowledge already working in the main construction industry and career changes who are seeking to obtain particular traditional building skills or experience in the heritage sector by funding and facilitating training placements with contractors and organisations. The main skills that the bursaries will be aimed at include brickwork, carpentry and joinery, fibrous plastering, lime plaster, stone masonry and conservation leadwork and blacksmithing.


The first trainee will be working with the stonemasons and carvers at the Minister for a six month period, to help develop their masonry, carving and stone conservation skills. His work will focus mainly on the Minister’s East Front, which is currently in urgent need of restoration.

Saemus Hanna, Heritage and Conservation Manager, ConstructionSkills said: "There is a need for more skilled craftspeople in the built heritage sector and this scheme offers practical training opportunities to those wanting to work in traditional building skills.

"We are keen to work with employers who want to host replacements and to hear from those keen to develop their skills in order to work in the heritage sector. This scheme will benefit businesses, individuals and the wider built heritage sector."

The Bursary Scheme is open to business of all sizes and to help craftspeople, trainees and career changes towards gaining NVQ3 (or equivilent) in relevant heritage skills.

For further information, visit the website on: www.buildingbursaries.org.uk.

(JM)