The IHBC’s annual analysis of local authority conservation recruitment in England has just been completed by IHBC member and volunteer, Bob Kindred MBE, and reveals a continuing decline, with the number of jobs advertised falling to a new low in 2009.
Annual demand for historic environment conservation specialists covered in the survey fell to just 43 in 2009, declining year-on-year from a peak of 158 in 2003-4. This is the lowest since the Institute started its annual evaluation in 1998.
Seán O’Reilly, IHBC Director, said: “We have here a worrying indicator of a wholly unsustainable situation in England, and we have no evidence from our own network that things are much different elsewhere across the UK. Our parallel survey of local authority conservation resources in England provides detailed analysis of actual staffing across each planning authorities, and will let us map out in more detail exactly what is happening. The survey is supported by English Heritage, and should be out soon. We’re extremely grateful to Bob for operating this study and analysis, which with our other work will help us raise collective support to help us all address what seems to be a very grave situation”.
The IHBC survey reviews job advertisements, and has been carried out consistently by Bob Kindred on behalf of the IHBC for the last twelve years. Over the period 1350 local authority conservation professional posts in local authorities across England have been covered, using advertisements in national publications and those notified to the IHBC through its extensive voluntary network. Using these figures to analyse recruitment, the survey gives a robust picture of the geographical distribution, expected job requirements and regional variations in salary levels.
The new low in figures also underpins anecdotal evidence from the Institute’ network of frozen recruitment, disestablishment or the downgrading of posts as a result of local government restructuring and public expenditure cuts. This is all despite the statutory nature of much of the work being undertaken and the progress of heritage protection reform, the success of which relies on local authorities delivering effective services.
Regional variations in vacancies in 2009 show that while advertised vacancies were generally much lower than at any time since 1998, for the first time, in one region (South West, covering the six counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire) not a single relevant post was recorded as being advertised.
Salary levels show that the high cost of living and recruitment and retention concerns result in significantly higher salaries in London authorities. This distorts the national average median salary levels with some IHBC Regions paying between 10% and 16% below the average.
