The Opening Discussion

The aim of the opening discussion was to respond to the NHTG report, and explore perspectives on craft skills in heritage.

Quinlan Terry, Quinlan & Francis Terry Architects, described a shortage of training skills in architecture and highlighted other problems. Having been commissioned for extensive works involving granite, he found he had to source the raw material from Spain and Portugal at a fraction of the UK cost. Craftsmen from Eastern Europe are prepared to work for long hours for far less remuneration than their British counterparts.
Dick Reid, carver, felt that the pace of building today is too fast for many craftsmen to cope with. There are few workshops big enough for the works required and health and safety requirements create challenges and restrictions.
John Taylor, Building Crafts College, said that students should be made aware that careers in the repair and conservation of old buildings are available. Nationally, there must be a move away from “cowboy” builders to craftsmen who are trained in heritage skills.
Hank Dittmar, The Prince’s Foundation, said that traditional skills apply to new build as well as the repair of old stock and that while there is an increasing number of traditional architects there are insufficient skilled workers.
Peterjohn Smythe, EHSA Architects, said that there is an enormous shortage of craftsmen. Managers are given top jobs without necessarily understanding the crafts. We urgently need a top-down leadership.
Philip Venning, Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, talked about skilled infividuals being converted to traditional skills as master craftsman.
Nicholas Ford, The Ernest Cook Trust, said that supply and demand must be matched by getting into schools to encourage students that there were good careers available in the traditional crafts.
Graham Thomas, Woodchester Mansion Trust, agreed with the NHTG report finding that there are insufficient courses and where courses are offered, they are generally oversubscribed.
Carol Souter, Heritage Lottery Fund, said that young people who get involved in heritage projects become deeply engaged. There are many potential recruits and we now have the opportunity to get into schools to inform students of career prospects in the heritage field.
Payson Muller, stonemason, pointed out that a young stonemason can expect only low pay. The salary at a cathedral masonry yard where he has worked was only £10,000 pa.
Robin Grist, Rural Renaissance, said that he would like to see more made of Rural Skills Festivals to attract young people. There is a problem with finding employers willing to take apprentices in the construction industry and studying is difficult for the over 19 age group as there is no funding for them.
Shawn Williamson, sculptor-mason, felt that the present system needed change and that academies should be created to give students 2-3 years to hone their skills before going into work.
HRH The Prince of Wales said that there is growing interest from young people in traditional skills and that The Prince’s Trust has tried to address the problems of funding and grant structure. There is a need for training and a funding regime for people of all ages who want to work with their hands.
Steve Lydon, South West Enterprise, LSC Gloucestershire, pointed out that public funding was only a small proportion of the funding available nationally. Vocational training may not be popular at present but with work starting on the refurbishment of inner cities, craft skills will be in increasing demand.
Stephen Davis, Woodchester Mansion Trust, emphasised the close connection between what have been defined as rural skills and heritage building skills. One aim at Woodchester is to combine construction and rural skills training to achieve the reintegration of Woodchester Mansion and its surrounding park, owned by The National Trust.
Martina Millburn, The Prince’s Trust, pointed out that there are a million young people out of work and heritage craft skills training initiatives could and should connect with this reservoir of unused labour and potential skill.
Neil Stevenson, master furniture maker, said that there is a crafts shortage and it is a consequence of the decimation of vocational skills education in schools. Health & Safety is always a barrier because of the legal risk to employers and organizations.

IIA THE OPENING DISCUSSION