As 90% of ‘Virtual’ Newcastle School feedback is ‘5/5’ or ‘4/5’, IHBC celebrates success in 2026, in learning, partnerships, friends & more, with thanks & congrats to all as Bristol 2027 looms, in June, on ‘Climate Change and Significance’

The IHBC is delighted to thank all contributors, participants, sponsors, network partners, exhibitors and, especially, our RTPI 2026 School Friends, all of whom have helped make our Annual School in Newcastle, such a success, as we look ahead to June 2027 in Bristol, interrogating ‘Climate Change and Significance’.


All registered delegates will be emailed a link to download the IHBC’s 2026 Newcastle School recordings

But you can still sign up for IHBC’s 2026 Newcastle School recordings

(from £35+VAT – using your IHBC membership number or discount code provided to RTPI members and others)

COMPLETE THE ORDER FORM


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IHBC launches survey seeking suggestions for improvements from officers and advisers in local government conservation services across the UK

The IHBC wants to support our local government conservation services by offering some useful suggestions for improvements to governments across the UK, to help both service users and local government conservation officers and advisers and we need your advice, input and suggestions!

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REGISTER INTEREST NOW: IHBC’s new ‘Leaders in Learning for Practice Network’ seeks ‘interest’ from leads in conservation-led education, training & learning programmes & courses

The IHBC has launched its call to register ‘Interest’ in our new ‘Leaders in Learning for Practice Network’, for service leads in built and historic environment conservation-led learning & training programmes & courses, with resources allocated, advocacy a priority, and plans to be shaped by Network members.

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IHBC sponsors SAHGB’s ‘Untold Tales: Women Pioneers in British and Irish Architectural History’ with ‘Call for Papers’ to 26 June

The hotel in 1928

The third symposium in memory of Mark Girouard looks at women’s contributions to architectural history in Britain and Ireland, with sponsors including the IHBC.

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IHBC’s ‘Evaluation’ CPD Signpost: Local Heritage Listing – Identifying and Conserving Local Heritage, by HE

Historic England has published a new edition of its advice note on Local Heritage Listing, offering updated guidance on identifying and conserving locally significant heritage assets.

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IHBC’s ‘Management’ CPD Signpost: New research explored at the third National Cathedrals Conference

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Exeter_Cathedral_nave_vaulted_ceiling.jpg/960px-Exeter_Cathedral_nave_vaulted_ceiling.jpg

A new report ‘Living Stones: English Cathedrals as Sacred Spaces in Changing Times’ finds that English cathedrals remain vital civic, cultural, and spiritual institutions in a changing England, while finances remain fragile.

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IHBC Director’s pick from HESPR’s £6.2M+ costed works last week: Council seeks Green Belt Assessment, to 27/07, £180K

The IHBC’s heritage business register HESPR – our Historic Environment Service Providers Recognition quality assurance service – sends members exclusive ‘News and Tender Alerts’, with the Director’s tender taster for NewsBlog readers this week comes from a City Council, for a Green Belt Assessment to 27/07/2026 and £180K.

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IHBC HESPR’s ‘News from the Sector’: Dezeen on the ‘Sagrada Familia in LEGO’!

IHBC’s heritage business register HESPR – our Historic Environment Service Providers Recognition quality assurance scheme for heritage services – emails members weekly ‘News and Tender Alerts’, and this week features Dezeen on the ‘Sagrada Familia in LEGO!’

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IHBC features ‘Heritage from the doorstep’: Largest ever replica of a pre-historic building at Stonehenge

Built using flint axes, coppiced hazel and chalk daub, the Kusuma Neolithic Hall is based on nearby archaeological evidence, reports English Heritage, as visitors can experience the hall this summer before it becomes a learning space in September.

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‘Simpler, shared system’ for describing skills needs in the UK now launched

The UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC) is a new national framework that marks ‘a significant step forward in how we think about and discuss skills in the UK’.

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IHBC features our special ‘Heritage from the Global doorstep’ welcome to the new ICOMOS Website

The IHBC is delighted to (finally) welcome April’s launch of the new website for ICOMOS, the ‘global network of professionals and experts working together, for the conservation and protection of cultural heritage sites around the world’.

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IHBC launches survey seeking suggestions for improvements from officers and advisers in local government conservation services across the UK

The IHBC wants to support our local government conservation services by offering some useful suggestions for improvements to governments across the UK, to help both service users and local government conservation officers and advisers and we need your advice, input and suggestions!

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IHBC’s 2026 School welcomes ‘Exhibitor Hub’ for #IHBCNewcastle2026 with thanks to Exhibitors, with reminder that IHBC’s Virtual SCHOOL BOOKING CLOSES 6PM Thursday, 18 June

The IHBC is delighted to announce 2026 Newcastle Day School features a wide range of exhibitors, adding even more CPD learning, engagement and networking opportunities for in-person delegates, while you can find out more on our Exhibitors Hub, our Annual School website HERE, and on our resources listed below.

Have you booked yet for #IHBCNewcastle2026? CLOSES 6PM Thursday 18 June.

In person places are now fully booked, but you can still secure your Virtual Day School place & access to the recording from £35+VAT HERE

VIEW THE ANNUAL SCHOOL PROGRAMME

BOOK NOW


The IHBC writes:

Welcome to the Exhibitors Hub for IHBC Newcastle 2026

We’re proud to showcase the organisations, companies, and specialists supporting this year’s Annual School. From innovative conservation technologies to expert heritage services, our exhibitors represent the leading edge of practice in the built and historic environment.

Those attending the Annual School will be able to meet the exhibitors in person at the Friday Day School, at The Common Room in Newcastle.

Explore the links below to discover more about the people and products helping to shape the future of heritage – and be sure to connect with them during the event!

Stand 4. Frew Conservation

Stand 5. Archaeology Data Service

Stand 6. Vision Digital Culture

Stand 7. Wilson George Restoration

Stand 8. Narro Associates

Stand 9. Cliveden Conservation

Stand 10. Ingleton Wood

Stand 11. JLP Restoration

Stand 12. Pinnacle Conservation

Stand 13. Church EcoMiser Ltd

Stand 14. Lycetts


Find out more about our exhibitors for #IHBCNewcastle2026 on our online Exhibitors Hub

See key 2026 Annual School resources below:

Check out our new-style 2026 School programme pdf, as there’s still time to ‘join online’! IHBC’s Virtual School, a day on ‘Adaptive Reuse’, 19 June, from just £35+VAT (IHBC & RTPI members)

IHBC’s 2026 ‘Adaptive Reuse’ School CPD Circular & Invitation: Your guide to accessible, low-cost CPD with a global reach online – Virtual School (19/06, IHBC rates for RTPI members),

SEE OUR EASY-ACCESS CPD GUIDE FOR ALL DELEGATES ON 19 JUNE

BOOK YOUR VIRTUAL SCHOOL FROM £35+VAT (IHBC & RTPI MEMBERS)

(BOOKING CLOSES 6PM, 18 JUNE 2026)

See more on the 2026 Newcastle Virtual School 19 June HERE

Check out our Linkedin post

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Still time to ‘join online’ – and check out our new-style programme pdf too)! IHBC’s Virtual School, a day on ‘Adaptive Reuse’, 19 June, from just £35+VAT (IHBC & RTPI members)

The IHBC is offering a special ‘early launch’ of our Newcastle 2026 School Programme, to celebrate its brand new look and teeming new features, from our ‘Exhibitor Hub’ and adverts to a user-friendly styling that helps Virtual Delegates navigate this unique day of IHBC CPD & learning.

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Spotlighting IHBC’s recent Council film, ‘Do Drop-in, before they drop out’ : Our new, must-see interview on pre-Pre App options, and how talking to applicants can help make things better!

IHBC’s latest Council received impressively positive feedback, as we advance the 3rd of our Parliamentary ‘5 Commitments to Help Heritage Skills in Conservation…’ exploring Local Authority (LA) conservation roles and services, and now spotlighting a new film that could change conservation, on ‘pre-Pre App’ conversations.

See our must-see IHBC Council film HERE

‘Conservation in conversations: ‘Before the pre-App – an alternative approach in regulation’

OR…

‘Do Drop-in, before they drop out’

A film by Babatunde

Starring CHRIS CONNELLEY

Senior Conservation Officer and Conservation Lead for Eastbourne, Arts Ambassador for Eastbourne, Eastbourne Borough and Lewes District Councils

With

JOANNA SAADY

IHBC Treasurer and Trustee, Director, Ecotecture Ecological Design Ltd.

Read what the Councils say:

Conservation Drop-in

Come and meet the conservation officers to discuss any queries you may have involving your listed building or building in a conservation area.

Whilst Eastbourne is a no booking drop-in event, bookings are required for Lewes. Please see booking info after the dates below.

If we feel that the questions asked would benefit from more in-depth advice, we will direct you to our pre-application service where we can discuss complex proposals in more depth.

All advice given at the drop ins will be verbal. There will be no written follow up.

For both authorities each session will be restricted to between 10 and 20 minutes.

https://www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/conservation

IHBC Director Seán O’Reilly said: ‘At our last Council we had a very tight timetable.  While that brevity was welcomed by our many and busy delegates, it did mean we had to move rapidly.  So we’re doing a suite of NewsBlog ‘spotlights’ on some key resources and plans from the session.’

‘As you know, IHBC’s Council is a members-only, live event, to enable the ‘Chatham House’-styled discussions, so we can’t make all public.  But of course, where we can, by agreement, we will, and this post features a very special film!’

We’re spotlighting the conversation between IHBC’s Treasurer and architect Joanna Saady and Senior Conservation Officer Chris Connelley on ‘Conservation in conversations: ‘Before the pre-App – an alternative approach in regulation’, in a file recorded by architect Babatunde Ibrahaim.

Jo Saady said: ‘The main thrust is to show our man talking about a conservation drop in that really helps owners of Listed Building and actually speeds the process up to get an informed response.’

See more background on IHBC’s Council-linked survey HERE

See more on the IHBC council at: Top marks for IHBC’s latest Council as LA Conservation service talks, papers & film get 10/10 from nearly 20% of 120+ delegates, shaping the survey for our new parliamentary push

See more on IHBC Councils HERE

Sign up for our NewsBlog service HERE

See more on IHBC CPD

See more on volunteering with the IHBC HERE

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PASS ON THE NEWS: IHBC-member rates on offer to ALL RTPI members for our 2026 Virtual Day School, 19/06, from Newcastle and from £35+VAT

IHBC’s 2026 Day School, broadcasting from Newcastle on 19 June, boasts The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) as our School ‘Friend’, offering reduced Virtual School rates to RTPI members as delegates while delegates will hear from former RTPI President Timothy David Crawshaw as he responds to a busy day of IHBC CPD.

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Spotlighting IHBC’s latest (members-only) Council, on local conservation services etc.: Informing a survey to shape Parliamentary advocacy, with IHBC’s Sarah Homer

IHBC’s latest Council received impressively positive feedback, but was very busy, so this NewsBlog post spotlights a paper easily missed in this ‘exploration of conservation services’, our plans for a light-touch survey to shape our response the 3rd of our Parliamentary ‘5 Commitments to Help Heritage Skills in Conservation…’.

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IHBC HESPR’s ‘News from the Sector’: DB on shaping the future of construction insight with DB Intelligence

IHBC’s heritage business register HESPR – our Historic Environment Service Providers Recognition quality assurance scheme for heritage services – emails members weekly ‘News and Tender Alerts’, and this week features Designing Buildings (DB) seeking support to ‘shape the future of construction insight with DB Intelligence’.

SEE MORE ON HESPR

JOIN HESPR, FROM £145PA (TO 2 EMPLOYEES)

Download sample weekly alert

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IHBC features ‘Heritage from the doorstep’: Mayor announces £1M for ‘iconic’ Moseley Road Baths restoration

Mayor Richard Parker has announced almost £1m for the restoration of Moseley Road Baths in Balsall Heath, Birmingham, reports the West Midlands Combined Authority.

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CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate

As the Government’s consultation on banning social media for under 16s draws to a close, the CIOB has written to the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology asking them to consider the impact such a ban may have on how young people access careers information.

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ITFG publishes new guidance on managing competence in organisations across the built environment

The Industry Task and Finish Group (ITFG) has published its guidance on Managing Competence in the Built Environment, an industry guide on how to meet Industry Competence Committee (ICC) principles etc.

ITFG writes:

The ITFG is an industry-led, time-limited group formed in June 2025 in response to the new Building Safety Regime’s requirement to manage competence in organisations. It brings together more than 50 professional bodies, industry organisations, regulators and assurance bodies, with the shared aim of translating high-level principles for managing competence in the built environment into a practical day-to-day application that is recognised across the sector and helps drive up competence and building safety outcomes.

The guidance sets out what effective organisational competence management looks like in practice for organisations of all sizes and risk profiles, SMEs, micro-businesses and large organisations alike, enabling them to demonstrate that people working for them, or on their behalf, are competent for the work they undertake.

Its flexible and proportionate approach means that the guidance can be used alongside existing management systems, or as a foundation where no formal approach is yet in place. Although prompted to meet competence management requirements set by building safety reforms, it can be used more widely across the built environment.

The guidance has been developed alongside, and is fully aligned with, the Industry Competence Committee (ICC) publication Setting Expectations on Competence Management. Used together, the ICC advice sets out what good looks like at a high level, while the ITFG guidance explains how organisations can put those principles into practice.

The guidance looks at the role of organisational leadership and governance, while emphasising that actively managing competence is not simply about qualifications or training records; it is about ensuring that organisations have enough people with the right skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours for their role.

Using the principles set out in the ICC document, the ITFG guidance sets out the key elements organisations, SME’s and large organisations alike, should think about when putting effective competence management in place, defining what competence is needed for different roles and activities, assessing and verifying competence, and making sure competence is monitored and maintained over time.

The guidance will next play a key role in shaping the development of a future British Standard on managing competence in organisations. To view the document online go here.

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Exploring the role and impact of small museums in places, by AIM

The Association of Independent Museums (AIM) is seeking your organisation’s views on the role and impact of small and medium museums across the UK, with a particular focus on their contribution to local placemaking and community life.

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ARB accredits brand new qualifications from two universities

The Architects Registration Board (ARB) has accredited brand new qualifications from two Universities.

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HEF publishes 2025-26 Year in Review informatic

The Historic Environment Forum’s (HEF) 2025–26 ‘Year-in-Review’ infographic, provides a snapshot of activity from last financial year.

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IHBC features ‘Heritage from the Global doorstep’: World Architecture Festival Director blogs on UK planning and… collaboration

Paul Finch, Programme Director and co-founder of the World Architecture Festival (WAF), has offered his thoughts on the UK’s planning system and its history.

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