Sustaining Traditional Building Skills in Northern Ireland

The project consisted of three elements:

• upskilling craftspeople to develop their knowledge, skills and experience of traditional building skills through one-year work-based placements
• offering a dedicated three-week Training the Trainers programme
• using experienced craftsmen and women as Heritage Ambassadors and mentors to pass on their skills and knowledge to the placements on the programme and promote the built heritage sector more widely

These three elements have helped and will continue to address and improve the current under-provision of training in this field and contribute to caring for and better maintenance of the 125,000 pre-1919 buildings across Northern Ireland.

Fifteen trainees completed their placement and have gone on to achieve their NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Heritage Skills (Construction). Trainees have also completed NVQ placements with various organisation across Northern Ireland such as the National Museums NI, National Trust and Northern Ireland Environment Agency.

Read more on the project website.