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About

The Traditional Building Skills Bursary Scheme is a £1.7 million project that is helping to address some of the current recognised skills shortages and skills gaps within the traditional crafts and built heritage sector, through the provision of bursary places for individuals in England and Wales to train in traditional building skills.

With £1,400,000 from the HLF, the scheme is also funded and managed by a partnership of leading heritage organisations – English Heritage, the National Trust, Cadw, ConstructionSkills and the National Heritage Training Group.

Trainees have the opportunity to gain valuable work-based training, practical skills development or up-skilling in their chosen traditional building skill. Placements will include: blacksmithing, brick masonry, carpentry and joinery, electrical and plumbing, dry stone walling, earth building, fibrous plastering, flint working, ironwork, lime mortar, lime plaster, painting and decorating, stone masonry and roofing.

The placements vary in length between 1 month and 2 years (part-time, full-time and in block release) and bursaries are available to support the Trainee during their placement.

Trainees are encouraged to apply for their CSCS card and work towards gaining their NVQ level 3 Heritage Skills.

Placements are hosted by a range of sole traders, public and private companies, and organisations who are committed to providing training to maintain the highest standard of craftsmanship.

Individuals, organisations or businesses interested in the scheme should go to www.buildingbursaries.org.uk or contact the Bursary Scheme Manager via any of the contact methods given.

The scheme has secured funding until March 2012, but the need to attract more individuals into the built heritage sector will not stop in then and further support and development of training opportunities will be needed.