The recent IHBC survey into private sector conservation business linked to the IHBC through our HESPR programme, reveals ‘cautious optimism’ about trading business, IHBC’s Chair Mike Brown has observed, welcoming the report.
The IHBC’s HESPR scheme – our ‘Historic Environment Service Providers Recognition’ listing – is just one of the ways the institute supports its members. HESPR offers low-cost access to a register of business practices that work to the IHBC’s conservation standards, with benefits that include notices of current tender opportunities. By responding to an annual survey, HESPR members can help the IHBC develop its advocacy for corporate bodies in the built and historic environment conservation sector.
IHBC Projects Officer Fiona Newton, who carried out the survey, said: ‘Of course our list of HESPR members is still small in terms of numbers, but it is a very select and representative grouping for the sector as a whole. This is because HESPR members’ work ranges across the full spectrum of conservation-related commercial practice’.
‘So it especially good news to see that most practices responding to the survey suggested that whilst their staffing levels were unlikely to increase this year, 80% of respondents expected turnover and profitability to grow in the next two years, and 77% felt the outlook for the coming year was likely to be better than pervious years.’
‘In terms of current clients, private clients and local government represented the biggest sector of business, with the biggest geographical area coverage being in London and the West Midlands.’
HESPR tender notification archive
