IHBC NewsBlogs

The IHBC has just released some internal employment data from our sector-wide IHBC Jobs etc service, which to date this year has advertised posts with a combined maximum of more than £6million of stated salaries, for posts from property heads to facilities managers, and with 69% postings recommending IHBC membership or more. 

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The latest edition of Context is themed on protecting memory and managing change – looking at the practices, processes and laws that ensure the historic environment can be preserved.

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The IHBC’s commercial conservation services listing, HESPR – the Historic Environment Service Providers Recognition scheme – offers members weekly HESPR Bulletins that bring tender opportunities together into one handy resource, and the Director’s top pick for IHBC members this week features a call from Defra for Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) and Landscape and Visual Impact training course, with the bid closing on 12 December and value not stated.

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Historic England is offering a series of charged-for services that give owners more opportunities to pursue listing certainty and pre-application planning conversations, says Emily Gee.

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Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has published two new case studies that describe the repair and upgrade of traditionally constructed buildings and components.

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Heritage-led regeneration – which often includes swathes of new build – and gentrification together form acontentious pairing, and one that can’t be ignored as it is happening all around the world, as reported recently also in the Guardian.

IHBC Director Sean O’Reilly said: ‘As skilled practitioners working with historic buildings and areas, IHBC members are well placed to distinguish between the economic and social issues that underpin gentrification, and conservation that rejuvenates the intrinsic potential of historic places.  But are we looking at these issues with a suitably critical eye, or in enough detail?’

‘Now is your chance to join the conversation using our NewsBlogs feedback comments service.’

The Guardian writes:

From community displacement in Mexico City to tourism-triggered evictions in Lisbon and crazy rent hikes in Silicon Valley, our readers shared stories of gentrification happening in their cities – and the initiatives trying to tackle it.

View the full Guardian story

You can find see more about these and many other local and global conservation-related matters on the IHBC Director’s informal Flipboard magazine: Conservation: Global and Local

• Feel free to add your thoughts to the NewsBlogs using our new feedback comments fields

The IHBC is delighted to be able to remind our newer members that our toolbox can offers anyone easy access to the essential tools in conservation practice, including now 22 practice ‘Notes’ and a host of other accessible practitioner resources and links.

IHBC Chair James Caird said: ‘The IHBC does encourage members to use the on-line Toolbox. It’s so easy to use and offers direct access to key IHBC operations such as guidance and research notes, consultations and the conservation wiki. It is linked from the IHBC home page with a quick link icon at the top of the page next to the social media buttons.” 

IHBC Director IHBC Director Seán O’Reilly said: ‘The Toolbox has been developing its content over the 18 months since we launched the Home Page, and now with 22 Notes on Research and Guidance, alongside links to standards and our SelfStarter, it’s a great way to access key resources fast.’

‘We will continue to shape the Toolbox as a core member service that, in turn, is shaped by members’ needs, so do be sure to offer your thoughts on this and other aspects of our work through the feedback link.’

‘Also, be sure to let your colleagues know about this, as it offers an accessible introduction to the many levels on which conservation has to operate.’

For background on the development of our Toolbox see the NewsBlogs

See the IHBC’s Toolbox 

 
See more IHBC Guidance Notes and more IHBC Research Notes

Lost your job and problems finding new work?  Or are you facing a crisis that seriously affects your conservation career or income?  IHBC is here to help, with our ‘fee-free year’ supporting you in your time of need. Just let us know and we’ll sort out your fee for a year, free of fuss and bother.  You can then focus on getting back on your feet, knowing that your professional body is still there for you.

James Caird, IHBC Chair, said ‘The Institute is very aware that careers in conservation are sometimes less secure than they once were. We want to offer our members as much support as we can during difficult periods as well as helping them generally with our wide range of cost-effective training, resources and support.  This support is simply another demonstration of our continuing focus on member needs and priorities.’ 

IHBC Director Seán O’Reilly said: ‘If you don’t have time or capacity to seek our usual fee-support services, we’re still here to help.  Just let us know and, with the minimum of fuss or hassle, we’ll make sure your fee is covered for the year, so our professional support can be counted on.’

‘This is just one of the many ways we at the IHBC helps our members as they face the challenge of developing and maintaining their specialist conservation skills.  The introduction of a stepped approach to IHBC conservation accreditation – Associate membership – addressed a big hurdle for early career practitioners.  Bursaries and fee support helped reduce our already low-cost fees even more.’

‘Now this new support means that if a member is suddenly hit with a crisis situation affecting their capacity to sort out our membership fee, they can simply call us and we will cover the subscription year, all with the minimum of fuss.’

‘This is simple, accessible and logical support for you from your professional body, to help you deal with the kind of crisis situations anyone can face’.

‘Simply email our Membership Services Officer and we will do the rest.’

Email our Membership Services Officer at membershipservices@ihbc.org.uk

For more details on this and other fee support see the IHBC website

The IHBC has now opened its celebrated NewsBlog service to user comments, so members and users can open, join and extend the discussions around our news items.

IHBC Director Sean O’Reilly said: ‘In line with our wider plans to engage more directly with members and colleagues, we’re opening our NewsBlogs to comments and queries.  Hopefully you will find this a useful way to communicate across our membership.  Maybe even tis will encourage you to get more involved with our operations, as delegates as well as volunteers.’

‘Please also remember that this new service is being managed within our existing team, and is experimental, so suggestions are just as welcome as patience while we test and refine the procedures.’

‘And of course be sure to follow the same rules we have for our LinkedIn group, not least as improper use by an IHBC member, even if not published, will lay them open to disciplinary measures:

• Comments are for the discussion of historic environment and related matters.
• Comments are open to IHBC members and anyone else with an interest in heritage and conservation.
• Product and commercial advertisements are not allowed. Products may be mentioned where they are relevant to the discussion taking place.
• Job advertisements are not permitted. Your advert will be posted to IHBC Social Networks only when it has appeared on the IHBC Jobs etc website; for more details see http://ihbconline.co.uk/jobsetc/

Now it’s over to you…

Access our NewsBlog Archive

The IHBC’s commercial conservation services listing, HESPR – the Historic Environment Service Providers Recognition scheme – offers members weekly HESPR Bulletins that bring tender opportunities together into one handy resource, and the Director’s top pick for IHBC members this week features a call from Fenland District Council (DC) for archaeology, building investigation and community engagement, valued at £31,000 and with bids closing on 15 December.

IHBC Chair James Caird said: ‘Our weekly Bulletin of current tender notifications to HESPR members is an innovative service that supports commercial conservation businesses that work to the IHBC’s standards and expectations.  These weekly selections offer the wider heritage world a regular insight into the conservation profession that we hope combine good news, sector profile and service inspiration all in one.’ 

Top tender pick of the week
The IHBC Director’s top pick from the HESPR Bulletin for this week comes from Fenland DC which is seeking bids on a £31,000 package, closing on 15 December, to undertake ‘projects set out in the Activity Statement for the Wisbech High Street Townscape Heritage project which is part funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). Wisbech Big Dig is to develop, support and deliver a number of community archaeology events in and around the High Street during the delivery phase of the project and will include a mixture of ‘in ground’ and building archaeology. Wisbech Underground is to research, map and investigate the network of cellars, underground warehouses and tunnels including community and local school engagement.’

Find out more about this opportunity

For more on HESPR and how to become a HESPR member see hespr.ihbc.org.uk

Download the HESPR flyer

For a free promotion of your tendering opportunities and work needs to the IHBC’s HESPR members, please send details and links to Joanna at contact@ihbc.org.uk, as soon as possible.

Tenders can also be advertised for a fee with IHBC Jobs etc, including a targeted email to 1600+ recipients as well as full coverage on our Newsblog alerts and social platforms (membership and followers c.14,000) and websites with 250,000 visits a month. Contact Joanna at contact@ihbc.org.uk

In helping people to discover, access and safeguard their heritage, the role of conservation professionals as experts is needed more than ever, but on different and non-elitist terms, says Nigel Walter.

In his Context article titled Conservation as action and reaction, Walter discusses how the story of modern conservation can be read as the response to the twin traumas of 19th century restoration and 20th century post-war reconstruction.