Traditional Building Skills Training Scheme - Roofing Overview
23 May 2010, Since 2007 the Traditional Building Skills Bursary Scheme has been offering a boost for training to contractors and individuals respectively, to help them develop their businesses and hands-on traditional building skills within the built heritage sector
During tough economic times, training is often the last priority for a contractor. The future is often more about survival and less about upskilling for current employees and taking on new staff. And for individuals the opportunity to get their foot in the door with a contractor is subsequently even more difficult.
Since 2007 the Traditional Building Skills Bursary Scheme has been offering a boost for training to contractors and individuals respectively, to help them develop their businesses and hands-on traditional building skills within the built heritage sector.
By recruiting and placing enthusiastic individuals in variable length work-based placements with a reputable contractor, the Scheme supports excellent on-the-job training opportunities for people who want to work in the sector and helps companies find individuals who want and can learn alongside their more experienced and skilled craftsmen.
Financial support for placements are provided either for craftspeople with transferable skills and knowledge already working in the main construction industry, or people who want to change their career.
Trainees are funded up to £15,000 per year (pro rata), thus relieving the placement host of the financial burden of taking on a trainee. Work placements can be as short as a month and as long as 18 months, depending on the existing skills of the Trainee and the order book of the contractor. The business benefits from a keen and committed individual who wants to learn and, in time, will be a useful pair of hands.
The Scheme which is primarily funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (£1,400,00), with further financial and technical support from English Heritage, The National trust, ConstructionSkills, Cadw and the National Heritage Training group supports a broad range of buildings skills, including traditional roofing – thatching, leadwork, stone, slate and tile. But so far only £82,500 of the £1,119,000 training budget has been invested in roofing.
“We’ve had some great successes, but we have more funding and can offer more opportunities.” says Clara Willett, the Scheme Manager. “The project currently has funding until the end of 2011 and so now is the time to think about whether your company could offer a work-based training
placement. We are desperate for stone or tile roofing companies to offer opportunities because this is an area we have yet to fund”
The £1.7 million Scheme has already funded 76 Trainees throughout England and Wales and has been granted additional funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and its partners to continue offering a further 60 placements.
The Scheme has invested £52,000 in thatching and has so far helped 4 thatching trainees. Dafydd Driver was on a 12 month placement with Alun Jones of Pembrokeshire Roofing and Thatching Services, gaining his NVQ level 2 and now works alongside him. “I’ve really enjoyed the [placement] experience. I have vastly progressed in my craft skills since I started and have a portfolio of my work and progress for the last year” says Dafydd
£30,000 has been invested in 2 leadwork trainees. Wez Blyth has almost completed a 12 month placement at Lincoln Cathedral, who also funded him to undertake some training at the Lead Sheet Association. He has just been employed on a 2 year contract to work at the Cathedral; something he never thought would be possible. “I can’t quite believe it,” says Wez, “but I’m now beginning to see that my career in leadwork is a reality.” Matthew Murphy has just been awarded a £15,000 bursary to train as a leadworker and is hoping to undertake his placement with a company in the North West.
The Scheme encourages its Trainees to gain their CSCS card and NVQ level 3 Heritage Skills qualification which will stand the in good stead for future employment in the heritage sector. Most of the Trainees continue working in the sector (80%), many for their placement host (31%).
Certainly this initiative and funding is proving worthwhile for all involved. Master thatcher, Adam Nash, who hosted a placement to Will Ford sings the Scheme’s praises: “it enabled me top take on another apprentice without being crippled by a huge wages bill, which in turn has helped me grow my business even in these difficult times.“
This Scheme is making a difference to people, contractors and the sector and would delighted top hear from you if you are thinking about on-the-job training.
Contact:
Clara Willett
Tradiitona Building Skills Bursary Scheme
PO Box 1179
Tring
Herts.,
HP23 6WR
Tel: 01442 890756
e-mail: clara@buildingbursaries.org.uk