David McDonald, President of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC), was interviewed for an article on skills shortages within the Sunday Times Homes Section (31 January), while also carrying advice on sector employment from Cathie Clarke of the National Heritage Training Group (NHTG).
The IHBC related text of the article is as follows:
‘It’s as much a vocation as a job,’ says David McDonald, president of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC). If your heart races at the sight of a medieval newel post or evidence of a Tudor midden heap, then this is the job for you — and it could pay £32,000 for a local-authority conservation officer, rising to £60,000 for a director of a specialist consultancy.
‘A lot of conservation jobs were lost after the 2008 crash,’ McDonald says. ‘As the economy picks up, the absence of these skills is becoming more acute. This is only likely to get worse as infrastructure projects such as HS2 and Crossrail 2, which severely affect the historic environment, come online.’
If you have a background or qualification in planning, archaeology, surveying or cultural studies, then you are well poised to benefit from a course in conservation. A full list of IHBC-recognised courses, including diplomas, postgraduate certificates and master’s degrees, is available at ihbc.org.uk
View the full article on the NHTG website
