Apply for recognition
Historic Environment Service Providers’ Recognition scheme, HESPR, is the IHBC’s recognition and promotion service for companies and practices – service providers – that seek to operate in accordance with the IHBC’s guiding principles and standards of historic environment conservation, principally our Code of Conduct.
The IHBC DOES NOT regulate a company recognised under HESPR. Recognition under HESPR allows the IHBC to ‘recognise’, and publicly acknowledge, the historic environment service standard of a company on the basis of a corresponding professional endorsement by an employee of that company, the Designated Service Adviser (DSA), who is a Full Member of the IHBC and is employed by that company.
Practices recognised under the IHBC’s HESPR agree to observe the institute’s standards through maintaining a corporate link to the IHBC in the person of their Designated Service Adviser, a nominated Full Member of the IHBC, agreed by the IHBC. That Full Member has personal professional responsibility for their endorsement of the standard of service in the practice or across a defined or discrete part of it that relates to the historic environment. The responsible person is identified as the ‘Designated Service Adviser’ (DSA), and serves as the ‘quality control’ for the practice with respect to the areas covered by the IHBC’s code of conduct. This role can be identified in their job description.
The DSA will not usually be able to monitor or control all aspects of the services provided. It should be noted that any professional testimony in support of the company they represent accords with the ordinary standards expected of a Full Member of the IHBC under our Code of Conduct. The duty of the DSA is to:
Neither the IHBC nor the HESPR either control or regulate areas covered by more appropriate or more substantial regulatory regimes, including pay, benefits, insurance etc.
Quality control
The Designated Service Adviser provides the quality control for the operation of the historic environment services in the company. Evidently it is essential that the DSA maintains appropriate continuing professional development, again in line with their duties as a Full Member of the IHBC. Consequently the DSA will be subject to regular CPD assessment.
Contravention of the terms of the HESPR can render the DSA subject to disciplinary measures under, at least, Item 1 of the IHBC’s Code of Conduct:
“Those engaged in the conservation of historic buildings, areas and landscapes will adhere to the highest standards of ethical and responsible behaviour in the conduct of the conservation of such buildings and sites.”
Subscription Rates
Subscriptions are tiered depending on the number of professional (but not necessarily conservation specialist) employees in the organisation.
Historic Environment Service Providers’ Recognition scheme, HESPR, is the IHBC’s recognition and promotion service for companies and practices – service providers – that seek to operate in accordance with the IHBC’s guiding principles and standards of historic environment conservation, principally our Code of Conduct.
The IHBC DOES NOT regulate a company recognised under HESPR. Recognition under HESPR allows the IHBC to ‘recognise’, and publicly acknowledge, the historic environment service standard of a company on the basis of a corresponding professional endorsement by an employee of that company, the Designated Service Adviser (DSA), who is a Full Member of the IHBC and is employed by that company.
Practices recognised under the IHBC’s HESPR agree to observe the institute’s standards through maintaining a corporate link to the IHBC in the person of their Designated Service Adviser, a nominated Full Member of the IHBC, agreed by the IHBC. That Full Member has personal professional responsibility for their endorsement of the standard of service in the practice or across a defined or discrete part of it that relates to the historic environment. The responsible person is identified as the ‘Designated Service Adviser’ (DSA), and serves as the ‘quality control’ for the practice with respect to the areas covered by the IHBC’s code of conduct. This role can be identified in their job description.
The DSA will not usually be able to monitor or control all aspects of the services provided. It should be noted that any professional testimony in support of the company they represent accords with the ordinary standards expected of a Full Member of the IHBC under our Code of Conduct. The duty of the DSA is to:
- provide a level of quality assurance that, in their professional opinion, satisfies the standards expected by the IHBC and of the HESPR
- serve as a public point of contact within the practice for HESPR-related issues or complaints to be registered and addressed
- serve as a pro-active communication route between the practice and the IHBC
- maintain and update information held by the IHBC in accordance with the needs of the HESPR
Neither the IHBC nor the HESPR either control or regulate areas covered by more appropriate or more substantial regulatory regimes, including pay, benefits, insurance etc.
Quality control
The Designated Service Adviser provides the quality control for the operation of the historic environment services in the company. Evidently it is essential that the DSA maintains appropriate continuing professional development, again in line with their duties as a Full Member of the IHBC. Consequently the DSA will be subject to regular CPD assessment.
Contravention of the terms of the HESPR can render the DSA subject to disciplinary measures under, at least, Item 1 of the IHBC’s Code of Conduct:
“Those engaged in the conservation of historic buildings, areas and landscapes will adhere to the highest standards of ethical and responsible behaviour in the conduct of the conservation of such buildings and sites.”
Subscription Rates
Subscriptions are tiered depending on the number of professional (but not necessarily conservation specialist) employees in the organisation.
Tier 1: Very small organisation - up to and including two professional full time equivalent employees.
Tier 2: Small organisation - up to five professional full time equivalent employees
Tier 3: Medium organisation - up to ten professional full time equivalent employees
Tier 4: Large organisations - up to fifteen professional full time equivalent employees
Tier 5: Very large organisations - over fifteen professional full time equivalent employees
Tier 2: Small organisation - up to five professional full time equivalent employees
Tier 3: Medium organisation - up to ten professional full time equivalent employees
Tier 4: Large organisations - up to fifteen professional full time equivalent employees
Tier 5: Very large organisations - over fifteen professional full time equivalent employees
Subscription levels are as follows:
Tier 1: £130
Tier 2: £250
Tier 3: £500
Tier 4: £900
Tier 5: £1,200
Tier 2: £250
Tier 3: £500
Tier 4: £900
Tier 5: £1,200
An initial application fee of £50 is required on application for recognition under HESPR and on any subsequent reapplication for recognition following any break in inclusion. This is non-returnable and intended to cover the administrative costs of processing the application.
All fees are subject to the addition of VAT.
Application Process
All fees are subject to the addition of VAT.
Application Process
1.
Please take time to read the terms of reference for the scheme as well as the information on this site.
2.
The company will first of all need to nominate its Designated Service Adviser (DSA). Further details on the role of the DSA can be found in the terms of reference. The DSA will be responsible for making the application.
3.
Please download and complete the following documents:
4.
Print out the documents, sign them where necessary and send them to HESPR, IHBC Enterprises Ltd, Jubilee House, High Street, Tisbury, Wiltshire, SP3 6HA.
5.
Please include a cheque for the application fee of £50 along with the first year’s subscription for your tier of company (with the addition of VAT @20% added to the total), made payable to IHBC Enterprises Ltd.
6.
A photograph, logo or other illustrative material can be sent on CD or emailed to HESPR@ihbc.co.uk