Providing Training in Building Conservation | Advice For Employers

Investing in apprenticeships can bring long-term benefits to your business and community.

An apprenticeship is a great way to train those looking to work in the construction and heritage sectors, as well as upskilling existing staff.

We'll guide you through the benefits of taking on an apprentice and how to get started.

Why take on a building conservation apprentice?

Apprenticeships are essential for developing building conservation and heritage skills across Scotland.

Many traditional skills are becoming rare, but they're vital to caring for our homes, schools and historic places. We must pass heritage crafts on to the future generations who will look after our buildings for years to come.

For your business, apprenticeships can be a sound investment. They can help you build up a skilled workforce and ensure specialist skills aren't lost.

For project work, they can increase impact. In larger projects, like Conservation Area Regeneration Schemes (CARS), supporting apprenticeships is often a requirement.

Apprenticeships can help your existing workforce too. You can upskill existing staff with apprenticeships, as well as employing new apprentices.

Types of apprenticeship

There are three different types of apprenticeships to support individuals and businesses.

• Foundation Apprenticeships are for S5 and S6 pupils to work with an employer and a college over a school year and gain a qualification
• Modern Apprenticeships are where people learn on the job, get paid and work towards a qualification
• Graduate Apprenticeships are where people learn on the job, get paid and work towards a degree level qualification

There are a number of apprenticeship levels and professions to choose from.

Advice and information about apprenticeships

There are many resources available to help you learn more about apprenticeships in Scotland.

• Learn about apprenticeships and how to support them on apprenticeship.scot
• The Young Person’s Guarantee offers advice and support to those providing opportunities for young people
• Skills Development Scotland (SDS) have a workbook for employers looking to deliver apprenticeships. This looks at recruitment, setting out expectations and reviews
• Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) is the Scottish Government’s Youth Employment strategy. Their resources and case studies can help you engage with young people and develop their skills. Their Build Your Future project focuses on the construction industry
• Find creative careers resources with DYW’s Discover! Creative Careers campaign

Looking for information to share with a prospective apprentice? Explore ways to train in building conservation.

Training for building conservation practitioners should be accredited where possible.

This means training should deliver a qualification or certificate endorsed by an awarding or professional body.

For example, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) or an industry-recognised national organisation such as:

• a college or university 
• a recognised specialist training provider, e.g. the Scottish Lime Centre Trust
• an institution such as Royal Institute of Chartered Surveys (RICS)
• a trade body, e.g. the National Federation of Roofing Contractors

Qualifications and accreditations may vary between disciplines. They can be based on existing knowledge and on-site experience, as well as practical and classroom-based training.

Some accreditations want to see a commitment to continuing professional development (CPD) which ensures knowledge and skills are up to date.

Professional bodies

Contact a professional body to check requirements for your profession and learn how you can upskill yourself.

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) supports and delivers training for the construction industry. In construction jobs, you also need the right Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card.

For wider building conservation, professional bodies such as The Institute of Building Conservation (IHBC) need evidence of professional competencies to achieve their accreditation scheme.

Find organisations which can help you locate helpful training and CPD.

Discover more information about continued professional development and find resources for individuals looking for training for themselves.

Find routes to entry into building conservation careers.

Involving communities in your building conservation work has wide-reaching benefits.

It can bring people together to connect with and celebrate the historic buildings all around them. Through these projects, communities can learn the importance of carrying out building maintenance and repair with traditional materials and building conservation skills.

You can also rally interest for your project or initiative by involving the community. More information about working with your community and heritage can be found on the Historic Environment Scotland Community Advice Hub.

Types of public outreach

Public outreach can take many forms, from simple information sessions to more focused or interactive activities.

Tours of your project, for example scaffolding tours during any building conservation work, can be a great way to engage and enthuse local people. Fun, hands-on activities can introduce families to historic buildings, traditional skills and materials.

A public event could be a good way to engage your local community. You can also combine general outreach with activities for local schools.

Get in touch with your local city heritage trust for support in outreach. The Scottish Civic Trust have lots of ideas and initiatives to celebrate Scotland’s built environment.

Training for volunteers and the community

In many projects, local community and volunteer groups play an important role. Training often makes a practical difference to their skills development.

It could have a long-term positive impact on individuals and their group.

When you know what training you would like to offer your volunteer learners, approach your local heritage trusts and history societies.

They often have excellent insights into their local area so are best placed to share knowledge and opportunities with you.

Volunteer Scotland has lots of useful information and training on working with volunteers.

Find more information about getting involved.

Working together with local schools can be an effective way to engage young people with traditional building skills more formally.

From one-off events and activities to bigger projects, discover some ways to do this.

Craft skill taster days

One example of school engagement is craft skill taster days. Organise these in schools, community hubs, or in city centres to increase impact.

A taster session gives pupils a chance to try out traditional crafts and be inspired by local craftspeople who talk to them about their job and skills.

Local traditional building forums often lead taster events. 

Building craft projects

A more in-depth project with one school over a longer period of time can result in more meaningful training for each pupil.

For example, we supported a traditional construction skills project at St Modan’s High School, very close to our conservation centre in Stirling.

Pupils learned about the skills required to care for historic buildings. This included architectural design, digital modelling and practical hand skills.

They could work towards a NPA Construction Craft and Technician at SCQF Level 4.

Youth groups

Youth groups, and other groups active in the community, can be another good way to engage young people and underrepresented groups.

In a collaboration between Young Scot and Historic Environment Scotland, the HistoricScot Youth Forum's report recommends ways to engage young people in heritage, including through volunteering and training.

You might find it challenging to find the resources to support building skills training, but your business might be eligible for funding.

There are some exceptions, but funding is not usually available from a single source, and it's often only available on a local level.

Grants for craft skills projects

Grants from Historic Environment Scotland include The Historic Environment Support Fund which supports traditional skills training and community outreach projects.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports heritage projects, including skills development and job creation.

Grants for staff training and apprenticeships

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) have a grants scheme that can help towards the cost of training staff in the construction industry. This can include supporting apprenticeship training.

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) can offer employers advice, information and funding to support skills development in your workplace. Our Skillsforce explains the apprenticeship support they offer and the Flexible Workforce Development Fund.

Local grants and funding

Funding available on a local level includes the Young Person’s Guarantee, which are organised through councils.

You could use this type of funding support the delivery of an apprenticeship by paying for part of the wage. Contact your local council to find out who is responsible for this, and whether this is an option for your project.

Smaller trusts and charitable funds support training locally. Funding opportunities vary. Look for open funding opportunities to find a match with your planned training.

Get Grants or funding newsletters from organisations like the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations can help you find funding sources.