Learning |The Engine Shed | Part of Historic Environment Scotland

Two people standing behind a table, smiling. They are holding tools and on the table there are lead beaters and two lead trays

Learning

Kick-start a career in building conservation, with our advice on skills and training. We also have learning resources and activities to inspire younger learners.

Learners are sitting around a table and looking at the lecturer and screen. The lecturer is talking and pointing at the screen.

A large grey stone castle surrounded by temporary fencing with the entrance covered in scaffolding.

A group of people chiseling wood in a workshop

Two children making a wall out of tiny mini bricks

Training and learning events

A bell shaped tiled roof of a turreted building, with chimneys in the background. The roof has a spike on the top and the sky is blue with scattered clouds.

Building Management

Scottish Roofing: Materials and Practices

Tue 11 Mar 2025

An introduction to traditional roofing materials and techniques in Scotland, with guidance on current best practice and an update on recent HES slate quarry initiatives.

Engine Shed

Enthusiast, Professional

Quite technical

A timber door and window set into the side of a historic castle wall, made up of many intricate stones and shaped bricks.

Building Management

Conserving Timberwork and Timber Windows

Tue 18 Mar 2025

A day focusing on the use and the repair of timberwork in Scotland’s buildings, with a special focus on traditional sash and case windows.

Engine Shed

Enthusiast, Professional

Quite technical

A person demonstrating building energy efficiency to a group, using a display stand

Building Management

Level 3 Award, Energy Efficiency in Older and Traditional Buildings

Selected dates from Tue 25 Mar 2025 to Thu 4 Dec 2025

Work towards a qualification in energy efficiency with our building conservation experts.

Engine Shed

Enthusiast, Professional

Most technical

A row of whitewashed stone cottages with a long connected thatched roof. The doors of the cottages are blue, and they open directly onto a track road.

Building Management

Vernacular Building Materials in Scotland

Thu 27 Mar 2025

Discover a range of vernacular building materials used in Scotland and recent projects undertaken to understand their construction.

Engine Shed

Enthusiast, Professional

Quite technical

An architectural drawing of a historical building as seen from the side view.

Building Management

Researching Scotland’s Buildings

Thu 8 May 2025

An introduction to research sources and methods for architectural and construction history in Scotland.

Engine Shed

Enthusiast, Professional

Quite technical

A digital surveying camera mounted on a tripod overlooking a historic burial site next to the sea.

Building Management

Documenting Scotland’s Historic Environment

Thu 22 May 2025

An introduction to a range of traditional and innovative methods for recording Scotland’s historic built environment.

Engine Shed

Enthusiast, Professional

Quite technical

A tall grey castle surrounded by temporary fencing, with the entrance way boarded up with scaffolding.

Building Management

Introduction to Building Conservation Week

Selected dates until Fri 6 Jun 2025

Through a series of lectures and site visits, this 5-day course will explore conservation of the Scottish Built Environment and Traditional Building Skills.

Engine Shed

Enthusiast, Professional

Quite technical