HERITAGE SKILLS IN CONSERVATION An independent sector survey of the availability of specialist skills for the conservation, maintenance and repair of historic and traditionally constructed buildings CATHEDRAL COMMUNICATIONS
CONTENTS KEY FINDINGS 1 SKILL REQUIREMENTS 3 HERITAGE PROFESSIONALS 5 Professional accreditation survey 5 Accrediting organisations and registers 6 HERITAGE CONTRACTORS AND CONSERVATORS 8 Industry perceptions survey 9 Craft courses and training survey 10 RETROFIT 12 PUBLISHED BY Cathedral Communications Limited, High Street, Tisbury, Wiltshire, England SP3 6HA Tel 01747 871717 Email info@buildingconservation.com www.buildingconservation.com PRINTING Mail & Print Limited PUBLISHED November 2025 For the Institute of Historic Building Conservation CATHEDRAL COMMUNICATIONS Cover: A stonemason from Cliveden Conservation repairing a capital on the west front of Wells Cathedral Back cover: The turbine hall of Battersea Power station which was converted for use as a shopping centre by architects WilkinsonEyre, with specialist architects Purcell leading on the conservation and repair of the original fabric. (All photos: Jonathan Taylor unless otherwise noted)
1 HERITAGE SKILLS IN CONSERVATION Commissioned by the IHBC, this is an independent sector-wide survey and review of the availability of specialist skills for the conservation, maintenance, retrofit and repair of historic and traditionally constructed buildings. It was prepared by Cathedral Communications Limited in November 2025 following surveys of: • accreditation in building conservation • courses and training in building conservation • industry perceptions of the availability of heritage skills. KEY FINDINGS The good news is that a little over two percent of architects and surveyors in the UK are accredited to work with historic and traditionally constructed buildings. As only two per cent of the building stock is listed, the proportions match perfectly. Not so good is the fact that the UK does not have enough specialist contractors, particularly in fields such as thatching and traditional plastering. Accreditation levels among contractors and craftspeople is particularly low. Out of the 350,000 construction companies registered in Great Britain less than 250 are accredited to carry out conservation and repair work. That is less than 0.1 per cent. The bad news is that it is not only the listed buildings that needs these skills. Roughly 6.5 million buildings – one in four of all buildings in Great Britain – are traditionally constructed using materials and techniques that are incompatible with modern ones. Most of these buildings need to be retrofitted to minimise heat loss, but as recent retrofit schemes have shown, poor design and installation errors trap moisture, leading to black mould and damp. We cannot make the same mistakes again. Teaching stonemasons to knap flint at HG Matthews’ brickworks
2 Alterations to 1 in 4 buildings in the UK need heritage specialists One in four buildings in the UK is traditionally built, typically with solid walls of brick or stone, bonded with a relatively soft lime mortar. All these older buildings perform in a way that is different from modern buildings (generally, those built after the first world war) and are easily damaged by inappropriate repairs, alterations and retrofit work. In the worst cases, the addition of insulation to an external wall prevents natural evaporation and makes it damp, cooling the surface and causing condensation. This leads to greater heat loss from the masonry in a vicious cycle that ultimately leads to the development of mould, with the potential for life-threatening respiratory problems for the more vulnerable occupants. All these buildings require specialist skills and knowledge to avoid harm. Where these buildings are also listed as being of special architectural or historic significance, the effect of alterations and repairs on their significance also needs to be carefully considered as it is a criminal offence to alter one in a way that harms its significance without consent. This applies to both the interior and the exterior of the building. In this field, conservation is defined as the management of change in a way that safeguards the heritage asset and its significance for the future. Some change is often necessary, whether to halt decay or to ensure the suitability for its current or future use. It is a fundamental tenet of conservation that these changes are kept to the minimum necessary. Understanding what changes are necessary and which are not requires fine judgements informed by experience and skill at every step of the way. This includes for example: • the architect or surveyor who prepares the specification and submits the application for listed building consent • the member of the local authority planning team who looks at the application and checks that the impact of the proposal on the heritage asset has been fully understood by the applicant and that any aspect of change is justified • the building contractor or craftsperson who carries out the work and interprets the specification guidance given by the architect or surveyor.
3 SKILL REQUIREMENTS Work to historic and traditionally constructed buildings may be considered under the following headings: repair and maintenance work to prevent their deterioration; retrofit to reduce their contribution to global warming in use; and adaptation where necessary to ensure long term sustainability. Repair and maintenance Where repairs to historic and traditionally constructed buildings are required, making the correct decisions requires a thorough understanding of the cause of the problem, its extent and the options for remediation. For any architect or surveyor tasked with investigating the problem, this will require an understanding of just how complex historic buildings can be, and when they need to bring in other specialist consultants. For example, damp at the base of a wall is often diagnosed as rising damp but could equally have tracked down through the core of the wall to the bottom where it collects and surfaces as a damp stain. Often the cause is far from the original source. As well as knowing which technology to use to identify the problem and the experience to interpret the findings, the specialist consultant also needs to understand how the structure was originally built and the most appropriate methods of repair. The knowledge and skills required for this work are acquired partly through specialist conservation course, partly on the job and partly through continuing professional development. For the contract or craftsperson carrying out a repair, knowledge of the materials and construction systems used historically is crucial. Construction skills are taught in over 113 colleges and training institutions across the UK but most focus exclusively on the construction skills required for modern buildings, and very few courses teach the use of traditional crafts such as the use of lime mortars, which are essential for the maintenance and repair of historic and traditionally constructed buildings. Retrofit Aside from the value of historic and traditionally constructed buildings to our cultural heritage and the quality of our built environment, these buildings represent a vast resource of embodied carbon. Replacing them would require the expenditure of an even greater amount of carbon (or CO2e as it is not just carbon dioxide that contributes to global warming) and is not an option. All can, however, be retrofitted to some degree, reducing drafts and heat loss if treated correctly, and with the replacement of high-carbon heating with more sustainable solutions, all can play a part in meeting netzero objectives. Unfortunately, adding insulation in the wrong way can cause major problems. According to a report recently published by the National Audit Office (NAO) most (98%) of homes that had external wall insulation installed under ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme between 2022 and 2025 have problems that will lead to damp and mould if left unaddressed. In some cases the Getting the local vernacular roof details right not only preserves their distinctive character, but also keeps them watertight.
4 insulation was installed so badly that water could enter where awkward details were not resolved, particularly at eaves level and became trapped. Nearly a third (29%) of the homes that were given internal insulation were also found to need fixing. The requirement for Environmental Performance Certificates has also encouraged the use of retrofit measures which, in the absence of adequate training, has led to the inappropriate use of insulation in solid external walls and timber roofs and a reduction in the ventilation of many older buildings. Traditionally constructed buildings with solid external walls are particularly vulnerable because they rely on the physical characteristics of the wall to remain dry. This includes the natural evaporation at the surface, the wicking effect of the substrate and the depth of the wall. Any changes which increase the rate that wind-driven rain is absorbed or which prevents its evaporation can tip the balance, allowing the wall to become steadily more damp, reducing its natural insulation values and conducting heat out through the wall. Simple good maintenance and repairs using appropriate measures would improve the thermal performance of traditional fabric, but these are often overlooked in standard retrofits. Where insulation is placed on inner surfaces, whether in roofs or walls, structures beyond the insulation become colder, inviting condensation. Masonry materials may be exposed to freeze-thaw cycles, while in roofs changes in condensation often lead to surfaces covered in mould. Getting the right level of insulation in place is an exact science and what is suitable in one building may be unsuitable in another. Adaptation and change In each of the UK’s home nations, heritage protection legislation recognises that listed buildings are best kept in use and cared for. None are so precious that they cannot be adapted to some degree to accommodate variations in use or improvements to make them more usable, but understanding what alterations are possible requires a particular skillset. Small changes which affect just part of a building or place are often given little thought, and over the years they accumulate until the significance of the asset is only recognisable to heritage specialists. Having trained conservation officers in local authorities is essential, not only to help owners and their consultants recognise the potential of our nations’ rich heritage of architecture and place, but also to prevent these incremental changes from snowballing. Whether the proposal is for a change in detail or for a major adaptation, the challenge lies in finding a design solution that meets the needs of the owner or the occupants in a way that has least impact on the character and significance of the building. If done well, new additions which respect the character and significance of a heritage asset can make a positive contribution, bringing new life and interest to the building or place. There is no standard formula; each heritage asset will come with its own unique challenges and opportunities. Realising these opportunities to exploit the full potential of a heritage asset requires skilled and experienced heritage professionals, including conservation-accredited architects and building surveyors, often working as part of a multi-disciplinary team which includes everyone involved, from the stonemason to the client. Homes account for around a quarter of the UK's energy consumption, mostly in heating and hot water.
5 HERITAGE PROFESSIONALS PROPORTION OF UK ARCHITECTS AND SURVEYORS WITH CONSERVATION ACCREDITATION (2025) ALL ARCHITECTS & SURVEYORS CONSERVATION ACCREDITED PER CENT ACCREDITED ARCHITECTURE AABC 434 RIAS (at upper and lower accreditation levels) 48 82 RIBA/RSAW/RSUA (at upper and lower accreditation levels) 157 261 IHBC (with ARB) 133 TOTAL 1,115 All architects*¹ 52,000 2.1% BUILDING SURVEYORS RICS 193 IHBC (with RICS) 80 TOTAL 273 All building surveyors 10,000² 2.7% All architects and surveyors 62,000 1,388 2.2% Just over two per cent of architects and surveyors in the UK are accredited in building conservation, which is broadly in line with the proportion of buildings that are listed. Professional accreditation survey Where statutory consents are required, such as listed building consent, planning permission or consent under the building regulations, proposals will usually involve the work of an accredited professional consultant such as an architect or a surveyor. A survey was conducted to establish the proportion of these professionals and others who are accredited in the conservation and repair of historic and traditionally constructed buildings. Accreditation in conservation for architects is offered by the two main professional bodies, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS), and an independent body, Architects Accredited in Building Conservation (AABC). In addition, 134 architects are full members of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC). Between them they currently have 1,115 fully accredited members out of a total of 52,000 architects registered by the Architect’s Registration Board (2.1%). For surveyors, accreditation is offered by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) with 193 fully accredited members. In addition, 80 RICS building surveyors with no other accreditation are full members of IHBC. This gives a total of 273 out of a total of approximately 10,000 building surveyors (2.7%) The number of listed buildings in the UK is approximately two per cent of the total building stock, so the proportion of architects and surveyors who are accredited seems appropriate. However, almost one in four buildings in the UK is traditionally constructed and requires the same specialist knowledge where maintenance, repairs, retrofit or adaptation is being carried out. With the current need for retrofit measures to reduce the carbon cost of running existing buildings, it is clear that there are now far too few professionals to meet the extra demand. ¹ Source: Statista.com: figures for 1st quarter of 2025 based on original data from the Office for National Statistics and cross-checked by the editor with most recent figures available from the Architects Registration Board ² Source: RICS. NB The institute does not keep exact figures for each discipline, but they estimated that of their 112,000 qualified professionals (MRICS, FRICS and AssocRICS) at the end of 2024, 10,000 held RICS chartered building surveyor designation.
6 Accrediting organisations and registers In addition to architects and surveyors, accreditation in building conservation is also offered for structural and civil engineers (CARE), architectural technicians (CIAT), conservation officers and other heritage specialists (IHBC). The Institute of Historic Building Conservation – 1,315 The IHBC is the largest single body of historic built environment professionals in the UK with over 2,500 members, of whom 1,315 have been assessed and accredited, 1,281 as full members and 34 as associate members. Having developed out of the former Association of Conservation Officers, the proportion of IHBC members employed in local or national government has slowly declined over several decades and now stands at 28 per cent, and its membership now includes a wide variety of heritage sector professionals, with over half in private practice. Accredited members include 260 architects and surveyors, most of whom are not accredited in conservation by any other body. Of the 91 full members who are surveyors (MRICS), only 12 are known to be accredited by RICS. Architects Accredited in Building Conservation (AABC) Register – 411 The AABC Register was the first conservation register to be established for architects and it is still the largest, with 411 architects ‘skilled and experienced in the repair, maintenance and adaptation of historic buildings.’ They are assessed by peers and client-focused lay assessors: www.aabc-register.co.uk. The Conservation Accreditation Register for Engineers (CARE) – 97 This register identifies civil and structural engineers skilled in the conservation of historical structures and sites and is administered by the Institution of Civil Engineers. It currently includes over 100 accredited members, 97 of whom are in the UK. Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists – 28 CIAT maintains a register of its members who are actively practising in conservation and have been assessed and accredited against a set of competences agreed by the Edinburgh Group, a consortium of heritage bodies which includes representatives of Historic England, Historic Environment Scotland and the sector’s professional bodies. There are currently 28 CIATaccredited conservationists. Two accrediting bodies with overlapping interests are also important; the Chartered Institute for Archaeology (CIfA) and the Ecclesiastical Architects and Surveyors Association (EASA). Many of CIfA’s 1,616 accredited full members specialise in buildings archaeology, and as EASA’s full members are required to demonstrate their experience in the ‘care, maintenance, design or construction of ecclesiastical buildings’, a high proportion of its 178 full members will have developed expertise in the conservation of ecclesiastical buildings. CPD with the IHBC at the Palace Theatre, Swansea, which has now been converted for offices and community use
7 Training for heritage professionals The principal pathway for graduates and newly-qualified builtenvironment professionals into the heritage sector is through one of the post-graduate courses in the conservation of buildings and places, followed by work experience and a period of assessment by the relevant accrediting professional body. The post-graduate courses are open to graduates with at least a 2.1 honours degree in a relevant subject, and generally last one academic year followed by a written dissertation. The Institute for Historic Building Conservation recognises the courses listed in the table below. For practicing professionals there is also the opportunity to gain similar knowledge and skills through training and mentoring in the workplace, without taking a post-graduate course in the conservation of buildings and places. Training does not stop there as all the accrediting bodies require their members to maintain continual professional development (CPD). Although some professional bodies stipulate that a proportion of CPD must be undertaken through formal or structured learning, such as courses and conferences, CPD includes many other forms of learning. The RIAS for example suggests that the following can all count, provided the content is relevant and appropriate: ‘searching out information from technical literature, reading the construction industry press, discussions with colleagues, attending conferences and courses, supporting the profession through committee or other work; building sites/ visits; seminar/conference/course; preparing/ giving presentation; committee meeting/work; in-house CPD; meeting/discussion/debate; reading/research/teaching’. COURSES RECOGNISED BY IHBC Recognition level MSc Conservation of Historic Buildings University of Bath Full MA/PGDip Conservation of the Historic Environment Birmingham City University Full MSt Building History University of Cambridge *Select MSc Sustainable Building Conservation Cardiff University Full MSc Building Conservation and Adaptation University of Central Lancashire Full MSc Architectural Conservation University of Edinburgh Full MSc Architectural Conservation University of Kent Full MSc Historic Building Conservation Kingston University Full MA Urban Conservation University of Leicester Full MA Sustainable Heritage Management University of Liverpool Full MSc Sustainable Heritage University College London Full MSc Historic Conservation Oxford Brookes University with University of Oxford Full MA Architecture Building and Heritage Conservation University of Portsmouth Full MSc Architectural Design for the Conservation of Built Heritage University of Strathclyde Full MSc Building Conservation Weald & Downland Living Museum Full MA Architecture and Sustainable Heritage University of Westminster Full MA Conservation Studies (Historic Buildings) University of York Full * ‘Select’ means that the course offers a pathway into full membership of the IHBC where the applicant is offering related services only – in this case historical research and heritage significance assessment, for example.
8 HERITAGE CONTRACTORS AND CONSERVATORS Ideally, all work to listed and traditionally constructed buildings would be overseen by heritage professionals. In practice, however, even where a building is listed and the work is specified by a heritage professional, owners will often reduce their cost by requiring a contractor to carry out the work to the specification of the professional without any oversight. Furthermore, even where work is supervised by the heritage professional, the contractor will be expected to make decisions as the work proceeds. Having a skilled specialist workforce is therefore essential. Three bodies offer conservationaccreditation for contractors and conservators: the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), the Institute for Conservation (Icon) and the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC). Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) – 14 CIOB launched its Building Conservation Certification Scheme in 2017 and it currently has 33 members. Members with appropriate qualifications and experience can now be certified at three levels: Registered (19 members) – professionals with some experience and knowledge in the area of heritage and conservation; Proficient (6 members) – professionals with significant experience of traditional buildings including listed buildings and scheduled monuments; and Certified (8 members) – experts in the field with a deep understanding of the significance and historic value of buildings and the philosophy of building conservation. Institute for Conservation (Icon) – 140 Icon offers a mentoring programme for members seeking accreditation and a system for assessing its members against established standards. Currently it has 762 accredited conservators and specialists in a wide range of fields from museum collections to building materials, their fittings and their finishes. Icon’s website includes a ‘find a conservator’ directory with 140 entries for firms or individuals offering conservation services of relevance to historic buildings and their contents. Specialisms currently include, for example, architectural paint research (6 companies), ceramics (11), decorative surfaces (16), furniture (9), gilding (13), sculpture (19) and stained glass (7). National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) – 58 NFRC’s National Heritage Roofing Contractors Register scheme identifies, assesses and accredits companies and individuals that have the required skills, knowledge and experience in the historic and vernacular systems of clay tile, slate, stone, shingle or metal roofing in the UK. The register is endorsed by Historic England, Cadw, the Environment and Heritage Service for Northern Ireland, Historic Environment Scotland, the National Heritage Training Group, and the Construction Industry Training Board. There are over 350,000 construction companies in Great Britain (ONS figures based on VAT/PAYE-registration). Since approximately two per cent of buildings are listed, it would seem appropriate to have at least 7,000 specialist contractors specialising in their maintenance and repair. However, with less than 250 companies accredited to carry out conservation and repair work, it is clear that there is either a substantial shortage in skills, or that there is an extremely low level of take-up of accreditation among building contractors. Possible causes of the latter might be that there is a lack of awareness of the need to demonstrate skill through accreditation, and plenty of available work for skilled conservators whether qualified or not. Stonemasonry students at Tyntesfield: opportunities for training are often integrated into National Trust restoration projects.
9 Industry perceptions survey The Building Conservation Directory (BCD) and its website www.buildingconservation.com provides details of 400 conservation specialists, including 120 specialist contractors and conservators. Although accreditation is not needed to advertise, all advertisers are screened to ensure that they work in the heritage field and offer relevant services. These people and a selection of those who regularly use or advertise in The Building Conservation Directory were sent a MailChimp survey to discover which heritage skills they had difficulty finding in the past three years. The response rate was too low (70 people) to give a detailed statistical analysis of all the challenges, but the feedback included 30 heritage professionals in some of the leading conservation companies in the UK and 18 building contractors and craftspeople working in this sector. The broad range of participants also makes this a particularly useful guide to the state of the sector. The top six problem areas all correspond with craft where there is little or no provision for training. Top of the list was thatching followed by lime work (render/stucco, pargetting, etc), lime or fibrous plastering, traditional painting and decorating, brick repairs and pointing, ironwork (cast and wrought). LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY None Some Major Thatching 19% 31% 50% Lime work (render/stucco, pargetting etc) 24% 55% 21% Lime or fibrous plastering 31% 46% 22% Traditional styles of painting and decorating 33% 47% 20% Brick repairs and pointing 38% 45% 16% Ironwork (cast and wrought) 39% 43% 18% Masonry cleaning 40% 49% 11% Vernacular/local construction (cob, pargetting etc) 41% 28% 31% Glass, stained glass and/or glazing 41% 43% 16% Traditional window and door repairs 44% 31% 25% Stone carving 44% 36% 20% Concrete repairs 47% 44% 9% Stonework repairs and pointing 47% 32% 20% Damp and decay treatment 49% 37% 14% Structural timber repairs 49% 32% 19% Leadwork 51% 30% 19% Traditional window and door construction 51% 37% 12% Fine joinery and cabinetwork 53% 29% 18% Roof slating and tiling 55% 31% 14% Sustainability/retrofit assessment 55% 24% 21% Retrofit (insulation, draught-proofing etc) 61% 28% 11% Hard landscaping (paving, setts, cobbles etc) 63% 24% 13% Interior furnishings 68% 28% 4% Interior fittings and finishes 72% 25% 3% Comments by contributors to the skills survey highlighted the low number of specialist courses and the lack of suitable support for apprenticeships. They also highlighted regional disparities in both training opportunities and in the availability of skilled heritage contractors and conservators. Anecdotal evidence suggested that areas of the south east of England was relatively better served, while areas of west Wales and the north west of England were highlighted as being most problematic. A selection of general comments from the survey is given in the online version of this report.
10 Red listed crafts The findings of this survey is also reflected in the findings of the Red List of Endangered Crafts, published by Heritage Crafts Association. These include a wide variety of crafts of relevance to the conservation and repair of historic buildings, their fittings and furnishings. The top category, ‘extinct in the UK’ has only one of relevance: mouthblown sheet glass making. One company in Germany is now the principal source of traditionally-made glass for the repair of historic windows. Building crafts feature prominently among the second two categories, ‘critically endangered’ and ‘endangered’. Following the decline of the potteries, the manufacture of ceramic floor and wall tiles are classified as critically endangered, while brick making remains endangered. Of those building crafts which must be practiced on site, those that are considered critically endangered include vernacular thatching techniques in Wales and in parts of Scotland. Those considered endangered include gauged brickwork – the craft of shaping individual bricks to create decorative arches and patterns seen in Georgian and Victorian architecture – and pargetting, the ornamental plastering found on timberframed buildings in the south east of England. Scagliola, the art of imitating marble through specialized plasterwork, is also endangered. The Red List identifies several causes for craft decline: difficulties recruiting apprentices, an aging craftsperson demographic, high costs for handmade items, and declining demand. Craft courses and training Most heritage skills training is focused on specific skills, and there is a growing number of craftspeople with a good understanding of traditional building technologies. Many of these craftspeople will have taken a traditional route into their field through one of the established training bodies offering training to Level 3 or above in a traditional craft skill, usually on a day-release so the student gains experience in the workplace. These courses, which are listed in the table opposite, tend to focus on the subject areas likely to be most economically viable for the college, so topics do not represent the full range of skill sets required for the conservation of the historic environment, and even then, many struggle to survive. It is common for craftspeople to retrain from other disciplines as mature students, not least because few school leavers will be aware of the full range of opportunities in the heritage sector, and a variety of public bodies and voluntary sector organisations have stepped in to provide further specialist training required. Their courses tend to be run by experienced heritage professionals, although they may not be independently assessed. These include the training arms of the statutory heritage bodies, including Historic England and Historic Environment Scotland in particular, and several conservation teams in local authorities run varied programmes according to requirements in the area. North Devon Council for example, ran seven short courses through the winter of 2024 and the spring of 2025 on stone masonry, repair and maintenance, energy efficiency, and sash windows repairs, with one course leading to a level 3 award in the Repair and Maintenance of Traditional (pre1919) Buildings. These courses attracted over 70 people. Essex County Council runs regular hands-on training opportunities and lectures focussed on traditional building skills and conservation, as does Carmarthenshire Council’s Tywi Centre. Participants range from practitioners wishing enhance their knowledge of heritage crafts and techniques, to owners of historic buildings wishing to maintain and repair their own homes. In all cases, participants should learn their own limitations and when it is necessary to bring in an expert. Other specialist training centres include the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum and The Scottish Lime Centre Trust. A full list is provided on the online version of this report. Thatching was identified in the survey as the most difficult skill to find, and two types of thatching were classed as 'critically endangered' in Heritage Crafts' Red List.
11 CRAFT COURSES AND TRAINING Number of graduates per year at each level GENERAL CONSERVATION L2 L3 L4+ Carrington Lime L3 Understanding the Repair & Maintenance of Traditional pre-1919 Buildings ✔ Cathedrals’ Workshop Fellowship FdA Applied Historic Building Conservation and Repair L5, 66 City of Glasgow College NQ Heritage Skills & Technology (SCQF L6) ✔ Heritage Craft Alliance Ltd L4 NVQ Dip Construction Site Supervision – Conservation ✔ Institute of Apprenticeships L7 Cultural Heritage Conservator Degree Apprenticeship ✔ Institute of Apprenticeships L5 Heritage Construction Specialist Apprenticeship ✔ Institute of Apprenticeships L7 Historic Environment Advisor Apprenticeship ✔ The Building Crafts College L6 Conservation Construction Site Management ✔ The Building Crafts College L2 +3 Conservation & Heritage NVQs ✔ ✔ The King’s Foundation L3 NVQ – Building Craft Programme ✔ METAL L2 L3 L5+ Hereford College of Arts BA(Hons) Artist Blacksmithing L6, 22 National School of Blacksmithing at Holme Lacy L2 +3 Blacksmithing ✔ ✔ SRUC Oatridge Campus L2 Forgework ✔ PLASTER L2 L2 L3 L5+ Carrington Lime L3 Heritage Plastering, solid ✔ Carrington Lime L3 Earth Builder ✔ Heritage Craft Alliance Ltd L3 NVQ Dip Heritage Skills (Construction) – Mason ✔ Tywi Centre L3 Heritage Plastering Specialist Applied Skills Programme 5 STONE L2 L3 L5+ Bath College L2–3 Stonemasonry 12 5 City & Guilds of London Art School BA(Hons) Conservation: Stone ✔ City & Guilds of London Art School DipHE/GradDip/BA(Hons) Carving: Architectural Stone ✔ City & Guilds of London Art School PgDip/MA Carving ✔ Dry Stone Walling Association GB Dry stone walling courses throughout the UK 41 7 Moulton College Dip L3 Stonemasonry 9 Priestman Associates LLP L3 NVQ Heritage skills: facade preservation 30 WOOD L2 L3 L5+ City & Guilds of London Art School BA(Hons) Conservation: Wood ✔ City & Guilds of London Art School DipHE/GradDip/BA(Hons) Carving: Woodcarving and Gilding ✔ Oak Frame Training Forum L2 Structural Post & Beam Carpentry SAP 8 Tywi Centre L3 Heritage carpentry NVQ: Specialist Applied Skills Programme 4 Weald & Downland Living Museum MSc Timber Building Conservation ✔ ROOFING L2 L3 L5+ CoRE, Hereford L3 Heritage Slating and Tiling SAP ✔ Lead Sheet Training Academy Traditional Intermediate Leadwork Craft (C&G Accredited) 10 Lead Sheet Training Academy Traditional Intermediate Hard Metal (C&G Accredited) 4 Lead Sheet Training Academy L2–L3 Leadwork, Specialist Applied-Skills Programme (SAP) 12 3 Lead Sheet Training Academy L2–L3 Hard Metals, Specialist Applied-Skills Programme (SAP) 7 2 National Construction Training Services L3 Heritage Lead and Hard Metals Roofing Operative 10 South Coast Roof Training L3 Heritage Skills ✔ INTERIORS & DECORATIVE L2 L3 L5+ The Courtauld Institute of Art MA Conservation of Wall Paintings ✔ City & Guilds of London Art School BA(Hons) Conservation: Decorative Surfaces ✔ University of Wales Trinity St David Apprenticeship, Stained Glass Craftsperson ✔ University of York MA Stained Glass Conservation and Heritage Management ✔
12 RETROFIT Where old and traditionally constructed buildings are to be retrofitted, it is best practice to start with the ‘easy wins’, the alterations and improvements that make the greatest difference to the energy-performance of the building, with least risk to the fabric. This might typically include: 1. repair and maintenance work to eliminate damp, as damp walls conduct heat out of a building 2. eliminating draughts, particularly around windows and doors, while ensuring that there is sufficient natural ventilation to prevent damp 3. increasing insulation in the roof space carefully, avoiding reducing the temperature on the far side so much that condensation and decay develop 4. improving the thermal performance of the windows, either by secondary glazing or, where appropriate, by double glazing. External wall insulation is generally the last on the list to be considered, because all systems have their disadvantages and in the worst case can lead to dry walls becoming damp, leading to increased heat loss, black mould and decay. A stonemason at the Scottish Lime Centre learning to use clay tiles with lime mortars to fill a cavity (Photo: Roz Artis, Scottish Lime Centre Trust)
13 A growing number of contractors and craftspeople are now familiar with the concept that traditionally constructed buildings with solid walls need to breathe. Courses run by the suppliers of lime mortars, by organisations like the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, and training centres such as the Scottish Lime Centre have been training builders in the use of lime mortars since the ‘90s. Most of the contractors coming through these courses have no accreditation in conservation, but are perfectly capable of carrying out high quality repairs and retrofit work to old and traditionally constructed buildings, particularly where a conservation architect or surveyor is involved. It is impossible to estimate precise numbers of these skilled craftspeople as there are no official registers, and even if there were, we would need still to check each craftsperson against the specific requirements of the job. For example, a highly skilled stonemason is unlikely to have the necessary skills required to retrofit a 17th century timber-framed building with wattle and daub walls, or a Victorian building constructed of cob. Each case requires a unique skill set. In addition a new pathway has been developed specifically for the retrofit of traditionally constructed buildings. The ABBE or NOCN Level 3 Award in Energy Efficiency Measures for Older and Traditional Buildings was introduced in 2022 and is being rolled out through training centres throughout the country. The course and others developed specifically for this sector are offered by the Environment Study Centre, including: • ABBE Level 3 Award qualification in Damp, Mould and Condensation in Buildings Retrofit Project Management • Introduction to the Retrofit of Buildings • Energy Efficiency and Retrofit of Non-Domestic Buildings 1-Day Course – based on BSI PAS 2038. A craftsperson weatherstripping Victorian sash windows: draughts are often the most significant contributor to heat loss
14 Cathedral Communications Limited, High Street, Tisbury, Wiltshire SP3 6HA Tel 01747 871717 Email admin@buildingconservation.com www.buildingconservation.com
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