The programme has been a collaboration between the City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh World Heritage, Telford College, and the Citadel and Junction youth centres. 

Over five weeks the group of 12 young people have been trying out skills such as decorative plastering, graining and marbling, and stonemasonry. Site visits to St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh Castle and Historic Scotland workshops at Croft-an-Righ were also part of the programme, bringing the young people into contact with apprentices and skilled craftsmen involved in the industry.

The final day will be held at Edinburgh World Heritage’s office in Charlotte Square and will be marked by a presentation of certificates to the participants by Michael Levack, the Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Federation. 

Commenting, Colin McLean, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, said: “We congratulate these young people on what they have achieved. They have grasped this opportunity to learn new skills and have hopefully been inspired to develop them further. Learning skills can not only make a difference to a person’s own life but are critical in seeing the country through this downturn and the recovery that will follow.”