News
INVESTMENT IN HERITAGE SKILLS UNLOCKS POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
The Construction Industry Training Board NI, working in partnership with the Department for Communities Historic Environment Division, has announced a new role 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 new three-year role 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 role 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 role 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.
Communities Minister, Deirdre Hargey said:
“The heritage sector needs and deserves our support to help them fully recover from the pandemic and I am delighted to have been able to support this important initiative through my Department’s Employment and Skills Initiative. The heritage sector plays an important role within our communities and this initiative will help to protect and maintain our historic environment now and into the future.”
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.
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.
Barry Neilson, Chief Executive CITB NI, commented:
“CITB NI is delighted to announce a fantastic opportunity to join us and develop this very important role with our partners in the heritage sector. Given low levels of skills availability, we must take action now to ensure the sustainability of heritage and conservation skills and develop a pool of locally employable effective skilled and experienced professionals for the work required to maintain heritage assets and address the real deficit in essential remedial works required. Failure to act now will result in the continuing loss of traditional skills and an experienced workforce. That places all NI built heritage at risk.”
Dr Paul Mullan, Director Northern Ireland at the Heritage Fund, said:
“At the Heritage Fund we welcome CITB NI’s commitment to succession planning through this new role thanks to funding from the Department for Communities. It’s a positive step to address skills shortages and create new opportunities for skilled tradespeople to get involved in protecting and conserving our historic buildings.”
If you are interested in this role then log onto www.citbni.org.uk/joinus
Completed applications should be emailed to HR@citbni.org.uk by the closing date: Wednesday 8 June 2022 @ 5pm. For further information on CITB NI visit www.citbni.org.uk. Follow CITBNI on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.