| Traditional
Building Skills - |
THE CITY AND COUNTRY BURSARY SCHEME FOR ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL TRADITIONAL BUILDING
SKILLS COURSES
Click for a .pdf of this flyer.
Essex County Council and City and Country Group are delighted to announce a new initiative to increase further the number of people skilled in the traditional building methods needed to maintain the county's many heritage buildings. Bursaries will now be available to enable younger or self-employed workers to take advantage of the courses already on offer.
The new building materials and techniques used in the 20th century have put our traditional buildings at risk. Cement, which has replaced lime, can destroy old bricks and timbers. Those who work in the construction industry are no longer trained in traditional methods. This shortage of skills, and lack of training, is widely recognised. The National Heritage Training Group, set up in 2003 to address the issue, published a survey of the sector of the construction industry in 2005 entitled Traditional Building Craft Skills - assessing the need, meeting the challenge.
This found that contractors were having difficulties recruiting craftspeople and that in the next 12 months there would be an estimated national shortfall of 6590 craftspeople required to meet demand if we are to repair and maintain 5 million traditionally built pre-1919 buildings and 500,000 listed buildings. Aware of the problem through its work funding the restoration of historic buildings, the Heritage Lottery Fund has set up a Traditional Building Skills Bursary Scheme which functions as a sort of apprenticeship for craftspeople and trainees qualified to NVQ Level 3 or equivalent .
As part of its responsibility for helping look after the county's 14,000 listed buildings, Essex County Council Historic Buildings and Conservation Section have long run courses at Cressing Temple on traditional building skills and related subjects. The current programme comprises 11 three-day hands-on courses, 9 half-day lectures, and 6 seminars. Attended by contractors, building professionals and homeowners, these courses have succeeded in raising awareness of the need to use materials and techniques appropriate for historic buildings and have established a reputation for quality and good value.
Although very reasonably priced, the cost of the courses is an obstacle to trainees and small contractors who lose several days' work and have the expense of travel and possibly accommodation. To offer discounted or free places to such people has long been an aspiration of the County Council, which has now been realised as City and Country Group have agreed to sponsor a Bursary Scheme.
The funding offered by the company will make it possible to offer 2 free places on each of the hands-on courses, and one on the seminars and lectures.
For more information
contact Katie Seabright on Tel: 01245 437672
Email: Traditional.BuildingSkills@essexcc.gov.uk
To make an application download the Word form and send it to Katie Seabright.
City and Country Group are an Essex-based development company which has specialised in refurbishing and regenerating historic properties. Quality, attention to detail and good craftsmanship are the hallmarks of their projects which have succeeded in finding a new use for historic buildings whilst respecting their character. Recently completed developments include The Galleries, the former Warley Hospital at Brentwood, and Herringswell Manor near Newmarket, Suffolk.
Amongst current projects are Balls Park, Hertford, and the conversion of St. Michael's Hospital in Braintree.
