The Construction Industry Training Board NI (CITB NI), in partnership with the Department for Communities, The Heritage Council, National Museums NI and The King’s Foundation, has been awarded £995,007 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver a cross-border training initiative in traditional building skills.
Thanks to National Lottery players, bursary places are available to help working professionals take their traditional building skills to the next level and continue their journey toward becoming master craftspeople. The project is further supported by The Heritage Council and Department for Communities.
The funding will support Shared Heritage Futures: An All-Ireland Skills Project – a four-year project designed to further traditional skills training on the island of Ireland. At the heart of the project is the All-Ireland Heritage Skills Programme, an annual 12-month training initiative designed to nurture the next generation of heritage craftspeople on the island. Each year, the initiative will provide eight individuals from the construction sector with the opportunity to deepen their expertise, hone their craft through industry placements, and gain an accredited Level 3 qualification in Heritage Skills (Construction).
The wider project will also promote broader public engagement with heritage skills through a series of open learning opportunities and workshops for schools and the wider community in Northern Ireland and offer additional opportunities for craftspeople taking the first steps in their career.
The project builds on previous training interventions by the project partners and has gained further momentum through the onboarding of National Museums NI who will manage the core training programme. This brings together many of the key stakeholders in traditional skills across the UK and Ireland to work towards a positive shared future for heritage skills on the island.
Participants in this year’s programme include a blacksmith, a furniture restorer, a mould maker, a sign painter, a heritage painter and decorator, a stonemason, stain glass artisan and a thatcher – each bringing vital and varied expertise alongside a shared passion for heritage skills. They will develop their skills through a combination of material-focused workshops, specialist conservation training weeks, and hands-on experience with expert mentors.
The need for skilled heritage craftspeople has become increasingly urgent. CITB NI’s 2018 report on Heritage Skills in Northern Ireland revealed that 94% of heritage contractors do not have any staff in formal training. Similarly, figures from the Heritage Council of Ireland show that 97% of craftspeople in the Republic of Ireland do not employ apprentices.
Without a strong supply chain of skilled craftspeople, heritage assets are at serious risk from inappropriate repairs by unqualified contractors to delays and rising costs due to the shortage of professionals. This programme represents a vital step toward addressing that skills gap.
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said:
“I am pleased that my Department is involved with this initiative delivering on the development of high quality heritage skills. Our historic environment is one of Northern Ireland’s greatest assets, supporting tourism, local economies and community pride. Through investing in heritage skills, we are not only helping to protect that heritage, we are also creating opportunities for people to develop specialist careers and supporting the long-term sustainability of the sector. This programme is an excellent example of how partnership working can deliver real benefits for people, places and our shared heritage.”
Stella Byrne, Northern Ireland Director at The National Lottery Heritage Fund Northern Ireland, commented:
“Traditional skills are integral to safeguarding the future of our heritage and this project is ensuring that these skills and knowledge are not lost. Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, we can make this funding available to CITB NI to invest in skills development and ensure that heritage is valued, cared for and sustained for everyone. We wish this promising group of traditional craftspeople every success now and in the future.”
Barry Neilson OBE, Chief Executive of CITB NI, said:
“We are excited to partner with colleagues across the UK and Ireland to consolidate our work on traditional building skills. Heritage skills are an important part of the construction industry, without which our historic buildings and places would be at greater risk. It is fantastic to see the variety of creative construction occupations represented in the programme, and the passion each student demonstrates for their craft skills. We look forward to seeing the students flourish over the coming months.”
Virginia Teehan, Chief Executive of The Heritage Council, commented:
“We are delighted to continue our work with partners to forward our shared commitment to building crafts on the island of Ireland. It is crucial to preserve the wisdom and knowledge that have shaped our historic built environment, and to pass these skills on to the next generation of heritage craftspeople.”
Kathryn Thomson, Chief Executive of National Museums NI affirmed:
“This investment is a significant step in safeguarding the traditional skills that underpin our built heritage and cultural identity. These skills tell the story of the people, places and traditions that have shaped life across the island of Ireland for generations. At the Ulster Folk Museum, we see first-hand the importance of preserving not only historic buildings and objects, but also the knowledge and craftsmanship behind them. We are delighted to support this programme and work with brilliant partners to train the next generation of heritage craftspeople, ensuring these skills continue to bring our shared heritage to life for years to come.”
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