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Heritage Project

INVESTMENT IN HERITAGE SKILLS UNLOCKS POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

20230225_104357.jpgCITB NI, working in partnership with the Department for Communities Historic Environment Division, is delivering a new Heritage Project which will not only preserve, develop, and deliver heritage skills supply and training in Northern Ireland but will seek to unlock the potential of developing jobs and employment in the construction sector.  It will also help raise awareness of our built heritage, the heritage skills required and promote the preservation and development of traditional crafts and skills.
 
This project is supported by the Covid Recovery Employment and Skills Initiative for Heritage funded by the Department for Communities and administered by the Heritage Fund.  The project builds on work undertaken by heritage partners including the former NI Traditional Building Skills Working Group and the NI Heritage Skills Core and Reference Groups.

The project will include establishing a central supply organisation as the heart of heritage skills supply and training for Northern Ireland and developing and promoting initiatives to support the delivery of the long-term ambition of addressing training, skills and career opportunities for heritage skills. See our latest flyer on careers in heritage skills
 

Two reports* have revealed that Northern Ireland has an increasing number of pre-1919 buildings rrequiring restoration, conservation, repair or maintenance which has increased the demand for traditional building materials and increasing skills. The reports highlight a range of key issues of concern including the shortage of heritage skills training available in Northern Ireland; a lack of knowledge and shortage of the skills has resulted in a skills gaps and training requirements within the sector and many tradespeople who have heritage skills are likely to be leaving in the next 10 years, with no one to replace them.20221028_155542.jpg
 
By the end of the project in summer 2025, the aim is to increase the pool of skilled craftspeople, which will allow for the enhancement of heritage places and spaces and begin to re-establish heritage trades/skills currently in danger of being lost.

For further information about the project or events contact  [email protected]

*Reports
  1. National Heritage Training Group – Skills Needs Analysis of the Built Environment Heritage Sector 2009.
  2. Skills in the Heritage Sector in NI – Report for Department of Communities Historic Environment Division by CITB NI 2018.