Booking is now open for the major event in the year for the conservation professional, with the launch of the website for the IHBC’s 2013 Annual School, an event that will confront one of the biggest challenges for conservation today: ‘Skills’.
The 2013 Annual School will take place in Carlisle on 20-22 June, and incorporate a special ‘Heritage Skills Fair Day’, with opportunities for delegates to sample heritage skills during an open ‘Skills’ day, a civic event co-hosted by the IHBC and the National Heritage Training Group (NHTG).
Marking the launch of the web site for the 2013 School, IHBC President Trefor Thorpe said: ‘The launch of the IHBC’s School booking is always a great moment in the calendar as it represents the first step towards the major learning and networking opportunity for the entire sector.’
‘At the School practitioners and advisers from any background can find out more about current and future historic environment priorities, and test themselves against colleagues, leaders and business interests across the entire spectrum of our membership, contacts and partners.’
‘And in 2013 we have a whole new dimension represented by a special partnership with the National Heritage Training Group to deliver a major civic day on heritage skills within the programme! That partnership provides a very special added attraction to the event this year.’
IHBC Chair Jo Evans said: ‘For 2013 we have the hugely challenging, and very timely theme, of ‘Skills’. Today, more than ever, as finances are tight, and public policy and capacity headline news, it’s more important than ever to ask what skills we need, and how do we cultivate and manage them? ‘Skills’ represent the critical challenge for practitioners across the built and historic environment just now, whether you are seeking the right balance of skills critical for viable careers in the sector, or looking at the most cost-effective conservation.’
‘Given the huge investment going into skills and training through government and charitable funding, ‘Skills’ are critical across the government’s entire growth agenda. But at the same time the pressure on local authority capacity is such that the historic training ground for IHBC members of the future seems to be almost disappearing from view! One key issue for our discussions must be what the sector and its practitioners can do to address the fault lines, while the other must be what are the opportunities on which they can build.’
On behalf of Carlisle City Council, which is also supporting the programme, Jane Meek, Director of Economic Development, said: ‘Carlisle City Council is proud to sponsor the Civic Reception for the IHBC Annual School and offer support for the joint IHBC-NHTG Heritage Skills Fair. We have a strong reputation in investing in our staff through training and development, we recognise that retaining and developing skills is a challenge across many sectors. As a custodian of many iconic historic buildings and monuments we welcome the chance to discuss the opportunities for a strategic approach to heritage skills. In our wider role as a planning authority we are particularly interested in skills partnerships that can support affordable conservation.’
National Heritage Training Group (NHTG) Chair Ray Robertson said: ‘The National Heritage Training Group is delighted to be co-sponsoring the Heritage Skills Fair day on the Saturday of the School programme. Combining specialist training with public impact, it’s a perfect demonstration of how this kind of smart partnership can build capacity and deliver innovative, cross-sector learning’.
The 2013 School’s lead co-organisers, Richard Majewicz and Stewart Ramsdale, noted: ‘Carlisle is the perfect location to explore the combination of advisory and practical skills that lie at the heart of the IHBC’s priorities. In Carlisle and the area around we already boast a splendid legacy of practical and theoretical lessons about skills from which delegates can learn. These range from actual hands-on heritage craft work to matters of policy and more strategic issues around how we address the viability of our cultural resources, even to how we benefit from the marketing of our renowned Arts and Crafts tradition.’
IHBC Education Secretary David McDonald said: ‘Each year our School provides our inter-disciplinary membership and their colleagues with a unique opportunity to examine, explore and investigate current issues in conservation. Uniquely for its scale, this takes place at first hand and under expert guidance, and alongside the chance to develop networks among some of the most senior conservation professionals across the UK.’
‘As we have practitioners from our Branch network lead the organisation of the School, you can rely on the coverage being relevant, inclusive and practical. While with the School’s learning opportunities mapped to our professional development models and membership criteria, delegates can be sure that to receive some of the best-targeted CPD around.’
‘With the Friday ‘Day School’ serving as a fully-fledged CPD opportunity in its own right, anyone with an interest in the built environment or managing places has access to a unique and cost-effective learning opportunity. For those coming to the dinner, we’ll also have an opportunity to hear more about the Gus Astley Student Award winners’.
‘And remember too that, when seeking employer support to attend the School, IHBC members ought to use their personal development plan and CPD resources to highlight the professional value of attending this key event.’
IHBC Treasurer Richard Morrice said: ‘Costs have been kept as low as possible and delegate fee levels have been held from 2012 despite inflation. We are also offering a range of bursaries to support delegates requiring special support. Details are provided on the School website, but remember also that separate bursaries will be offered by some IHBC Branches. If you do need support please be sure to contact your local Branch as well to see if there are opportunities there.’
Early bird booking rates apply until 19 April.
For the 2013 School background, links and booking see: www.ihbc.org.uk/carlisle2013/
For the Gus Astley Student Award see: gasa.ihbc.org.uk
For links to and feedback reports from previous Annual School websites see: www.ihbc.org.uk/news/schools/
For the NHTG’s new website see: www.nhtgskills.org
For sponsorship and delegate pack opportunities contact Fiona Newton at: projects@ihbc.org.uk
