Still at School?

Heritage and conservation is a specialist area within the construction industry, so it’s best to start by working towards a mainstream construction qualification, then developing your specialist skills and knowledge later.

If you enjoy working with your hands and want to get straight out on site when you finish school then think about a craft career route, such as brickwork, carpentry and joinery, stonemasonry or plastering.

If you are prepared to go to university you could think about pursuing a building professional career to become, for example, an architect, building surveyor, engineer or planner and then specialise in conservation or become a conservation officer. You should think about applying for an Inspire Scholarship to help you through your degree.

Taking the Construction and the Built Environment Diploma as an option at school would give you a real head start, whichever route you choose.

Leaving school?

If you want to follow the craft career route then it's a good idea to find an employer who is willing to offer an apprenticeship. Ideally, you will need to identify an employer who works in the heritage sector, although most will get involved in some heritage projects as well as other kinds of building work, such as new house building or house extensions.

In the meantime we can give you some tips on how to improve your appeal to potential employers in the heritage sector. Read more...