Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
designers not specifying detailed architectural enrichments, as building design
has become utilitarian, meaning the need for traditional craft knowledge and
skills has been neglected. Thankfully after much lobbying by leading craftsper-
sons and various national heritage bodies, this has been recognised and there
are now moves to address this.
In response to this the National Heritage Training Group (NHTG), with the
support of English Heritage and Construction Skills, have completed a suite
of 'Heritage Skills' National Occupational Standards and are working on final
details for the subsequent level 3 NVQ.
The Heritage Skills NVQ will have optional units covering all craft areas and
will provide a qualification route not only for individuals working solely in the
heri-tage sector but also those working on both modern and traditional con-
struction projects. It is also envisaged that achievement of the Heritage Skills
NVQ will see 'Construction Skills Certification Scheme' (CSCS) cards endorsed
with conservation credits which in turn will provide major stakeholders of his-
toric buildings the opportunity to ensure that only appropriately qualified crafts
people gain access to site.
To support Heritage Skills NVQs the NHTG have worked with leading crafts
people from various craft fields to develop a programme entitled 'Training the
Trainers'. This initiative sees experts across the craft spectrum provide existing
college lecturers with advanced skills and knowledge to enable them to pro-
mote and support the delivery once again of traditional building craft skills.
The problem of the acute shortage of high-level skills and its possible solu-
tions, embraces social, economic, academic, and philosophical issues, as well as
the more obvious craft concerns.
Some issues in respect of this have been highlighted in various publications
from government bodies and relevant heritage groups. Among the most sig-
nificant are Planning Policy Guidance 15: Planning and the Historic Environment
(DoE DNH, 1994), Power of Place : The Future of the Historic Environment (English
Heritage, 2000), The Historic Environment: A Face for Our Future (DCMS, 2001),
Sustaining our Living Heritage: Skills and Training for the Heritage Sector (HLF,
2003), Traditional Building Craft Skills: Assessing the Need, Meeting the Challenge
(NHTG, 2005) and, with specific regard for maintenance issues, Maintenance
Education and Training for Listed Buildings (Watt and Colston, 2003).
Putting Value Back into Craft Education and Training
All crafts are learned and refined through years of dedicated study and relevant
full-time practice, observing and being surrounded by those more proficient -
learning through participation. This teaches the correct selection and use of
tools, equipment, and materials and develops the ability to know what they are,
and are not, capable of in the production of first-class work.
 
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