2013 Yearbook

38 Y E A R B O O K 2 0 1 3 Diploma in Heritage Skills so they can gain the CSCS Heritage Skills Card. The majority of the apprentices are aged between 16 and 19, which allows us to draw down funding from the government for their NVQs. We were pleased that the first intake included two female apprentices – a plumber and a painter and decorator. As part of their training we also sent them for a week in Guédelon in Burgundy, where a 25-year project is under way to build a castle using medieval methods and materials (right). Here they developed their understanding of traditional construction in a variety of trades. This was then followed up by a three-day retrofit training course which was held at Fountains Abbey, Yorkshire (illustrated on previous page), in conjunction with the Prince’s Foundation, which also sent 12 students. The event ended with a multiple-choice test provided by ConstructionSkills, which gave the apprentices credits towards a Level 2 Award in Heritage which we have helped develop. Later in the year we followed this up by organising further training courses which resulted in all of them achieving their Level 2 awards. The time spent in ensuring the development of our apprentices should not be underestimated, and we have been extremely fortunate to be able to rely on Roger Cayzer, who used to work in a senior role for the trust and now gives up his time to set up these events. Extending the scheme An article in the National Trust magazine in Spring 2011 generated a great deal of interest in the apprenticeships and led to further much-needed funding for more positions. We are extremely grateful to the Pilgrim’s Trust, the Peak District National Park and to a number of anonymous private donors. As a result of their generosity and some additional internal funding, another 12 apprentices started in September 2011. We had up to 200 applications for some of these posts, further demonstrating the need for them. While the apprentices in the first intake were predominantly from the South, those in the second group were largely from the North. The trust felt that it was important that the apprentices should get to know each other and feel part of a team, so we arranged for them to attend two four- day courses at the Heritage Alliance Craft Centre in Yorkshire to achieve a qualification in heritage skills. Fortunately, we were also able to draw down the funding for this qualification. Continuity of skills was always a key outcome for the scheme and one of my greatest pleasures from it has been seeing the development of strong working relationships between the apprentices and their mentors, and the obvious deep mutual respect between them. As confidence in each other has grown, the apprentices have flourished and their mentors are proud that they now have a legacy. I am a passionate believer in traditional skills and firmly believe that the trust should be influencing the sector to ensure their retention. With funding for our scheme no longer available, I was therefore delighted to hear that in May 2012 our partnership with Cadw, English Heritage, CITB- ConstructionSkills and the NHTG had been successful in its bid to the HLF for the provision of £760,000 as a continuation of the Traditional Skills Bursary Scheme, but this time with a focus on displaced apprentices (see Further Information). Over the next two and a half years, this will provide up to 40 opportunities for apprentices across England and Wales, who through no fault of their own have been unable to complete their training. Seven of the ten apprentices recruited so far through this scheme are based with the trust. The scheme is also attracting other external funding, which will enable the apprentices to obtain their CSCS Heritage Skills Cards. Addressing the wider challenge So what of the future? We have provided a temporary solution for our teams which should serve us well for the medium term but skills shortages need to be addressed on a far wider scale. Further Education courses focus on new-build rather than traditional buildings, yet the latter account for 25 per cent of England’s building stock and 34 per cent of Wales’. We need to advocate a complete change in the way our trades are taught, starting at an early age. Ironically, the recession could afford an opportunity to achieve this as the government seems to have recognised the importance of apprenticeships. Further Information For more information on the Traditional Building Skills Bursary Scheme or to apply as a displaced apprentice please email the bursary manager, Elizabeth Long at elizabeth.long@nationaltrust.org.uk or visit www.buildingbursaries.org.uk . National Trust apprentices gain hands-on experience at Guédelon in Burgundy, where a medieval-style castle is being built using historic methods and materials (Photo: The National Trust)