Karen Houghton has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the National Heritage Training Group (NHTG) following the formation of NHTG as a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee.
The NHTG is an independent specialist sector skills development group with a UK-wide remit to provide assistance with all aspects of recruiting, training, and qualifying the built heritage sector workforce of the construction industry.
NHTG writes:
Karen will facilitate partnerships and collaborate with funders ConstructionSkills, English Heritage, Historic Scotland and the NIEA and other key stakeholders to ensure a trained and qualified workforce for pre-1919 buildings across the United Kingdom. She will also support the highly experienced, volunteer non-executive board members to deliver the NHTG’s business plan.
Ray Robertson, NHTG’s chairman said ‘I’m delighted with Karen’s appointment as Chief Executive Officer of the NHTG, and this important development follows her impressive performance managing the Building Traditional Skills programme as well as the invaluable support she’s already provided for the NHTG Executive. NHTG’s revised structure and funding arrangements means we can look forward to collaborating with industry federations and other partner agencies in order to safeguard the supply of a properly trained and qualified specialist workforce as well as work with the client groups to ensure this workforce is properly engaged with protecting our architectural and buildings inheritance.’
Karen Houghton responded ‘I’m thrilled to be embracing this more strategic role for NHTG, and also confident the organisation will continue to go from strength to strength. For me, this is a fantastic opportunity that will draw heavily on my long-standing personal commitment to making a tangible difference to people’s lives and the built environment. I firmly believe that the NHTG’s role isn’t just unique, it’s also critical in facilitating and brokering the partnerships that will enable us to fulfil our promise to provide essential resources and up-to-date information as well as practical training. From preserving our heritage buildings and helping communities and businesses right through to job creation, it’s the huge potential of the NHTG’s influence that makes directing this organisation such an exciting prospect.’
Paul Simons, Chair of the Building Traditional Skills programme commented ‘Fortunately for us, Karen will continue to manage Building Traditional Skills as the NHTG’s flagship project, and she’ll also enjoy the invaluable support of a team of associates and Regional Coordinators. This close collaboration between highly experienced individuals and agencies has always been one of the keys to the project’s success, and Karen’s new role leaves us more optimistic than ever about its future impact and the potential for extending its reach.’
For details of the NHTG see: www.nhtgskills.org
