IHBC Yearbook 2017

18 Y E A R B O O K 2 0 1 7 We also kick-started new ideas that built on existing achievements: a planned programme of online branch and volunteer support developed from our branch connection days; a new model for supporting volunteer- led initiatives in the form of special interest groups; a new approach to our Course Connection Day that extends the offer of a free day of IHBC support to student representatives from any relevant courses; a new programme for engaging with our HESPR members to help us work better and more proactively with private sector members; and plans for our first committee-led, branch- supported training event (at Bishop Auckland, in October 2017) which will extend our support strategy for members, as discussed later in this Yearbook (page 84). In addition, we maintained our leadership in addressing built and historic environment conservation needs and issues across the UK: our branches continue to deliver a unique suite of local training and networking on the ground; our interim IHBC Jobs etc data round-up for 2016 recorded sector jobs with a total salary value of more than £6 million; our annual local government survey for England continued; our publications and our networks (digital and membership) expanded; our consultations panel, supported by our branch network, maintained its high standard of public service in such critical areas as curtilage; while our support for members offered a new Crisis Support service to help members in crisis to easily access our support. For all that good news, our members have continued to experience exceptionally challenging, even hostile, work environments. Our 2016 annual school coincided with the Brexit results and our annual Course Connection Day in November with the election of the new US president, with each, whatever your leanings, introducing their peculiar hurdles and complexities. Perhaps, given the sadly too-familiar history of conservation- unfriendly thinking over the past decade and more, these at least lay outside our control. We do see positive signs on the horizon, with the Heritage Lottery Fund and its work one of the few consistently bright lights – and we are hugely pleased to have our current Yearbook prefaced by its new lead officer, Ros Kerslake, who has been such a long-standing friend to the sector. The appointment of new leaders at national heritage agencies and their equivalents across the UK appear to bode well for the future too, as they seem prepared to grapple with long-standing issues and concerns that have been more disguised than addressed by re-structuring. And the focus on UK excellence and leadership has usefully turned the spotlight on built and historic environment conservation, for in this the UK has a global standing and footprint that even the most unsympathetic government cannot ignore. The IHBC’s chairs have always been especially strong in asserting the case for the UK as a global centre for such conservation expertise. I have no doubt that in years to come our efforts, as mentioned above, will pay off at no less substantial global levels: • our structured interdisciplinary membership accreditation appears unique and surely marks the future for its focus on resource management • our development of a quality assurance methodology for local authority conservation services should reflect the way any public interest in our places considers their care and improvement • our communications strategy articulates the connection between place and society in their most complex and universal applications, and although not unique in itself, combined with the above the strategy has a special place in supporting successful advocacy. The IHBC is still very much an organisation in transition, and with our new Council+ and a remarkably robust body of voluntary trustees, not to mention the staff and consultants, I have no doubt that our future is bright. Seán O’Reilly, director@ihbc.org.uk Sam Tinsdeall, apprentice joiner, is presented with the Marsh Award for Successful Learning in Heritage Skills by Nick Carter, trustee of the Marsh Christian Trust