IHBC’s ‘Professional’ Signpost: A Practical Guide to Using AI for Smaller Construction Firms

Posted on 13/01/2026 by IHBC

Host platform to the IHBC’s Conservation Wiki, Designing Buildings (DB), has published ‘A Practical Guide to using AI for smaller Construction Firms’ by Greg Wilkes which describes how smaller firms can benefit from using AI.

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IHBC features ‘Heritage from the doorstep’: Concerns Southend’s Kursaal building ‘exposed to the elements’ and falling into disrepair

Posted on 13/01/2026 by IHBC

image for illustration: image for illustration: The Kursaal by User:Hassocks5489, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

The local MP continues to raise concerns about the condition of one of Essex’s most famous buildings Southend’s Kursaal, reports Essex Live News.

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New strategy for Scotland’s protected historic places

Posted on 13/01/2026 by IHBC

Historic Environment Scotland(HES) has published its new strategy for heritage designations in Scotland.

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Historic and Botanic Garden (HBG) Training Programme opportunities – early notice for March 2026

Posted on 13/01/2026 by IHBC

Historic and Botanic Garden (HBG) Training Programme.

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New Skills Relay to inspire the next generation of construction and housing talent

Posted on 13/01/2026 by IHBC

PfP Thrive, part of the UK’s leading social enterprise Places for People (PfP), has launched the Skills Relay – a nationwide challenge to tackle the UK’s construction and housing skills crisis.

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Scotland’s first-ever canal and traditional skills centre considered by councillors

Posted on 13/01/2026 by IHBC

Scottish Canals reported in December 2025 that Councillors would be asked to consider the Full Business Case for one of the Falkirk and Grangemouth Growth Deal’s flagship skills projects.

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IHBC features ‘Heritage from the Global (and local) doorstep’: WMF Britain update on Belfast City Council’s purchase of Assembly Rooms after inclusion on the ‘2025 Watch’

Posted on 13/01/2026 by IHBC

image for illustration: #IHBCBelfast2018

Following the inclusion of Belfast’s Assembly Rooms on the 2025 World Monuments Watch, WMF Britain celebrates Belfast City Council’s commitment to the Rooms as a major step forward in ‘safeguarding this significant historic asset and reimagining its future at the heart of the city of Belfast’.

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Check out IHBC’s new-style ‘CPD Circular’ & feed back: With ‘at-a-glance colour coding’, Director’s CPD Spotlight (ICOMOS-CIF 2026, Granada, 11-13/03), simpler format & more

Posted on 09/01/2026 by IHBC

IHBC’s newest CPD Circular, which lists accessible and cost-effective ‘Continuing Professional Development’ (CPD) on our networks, has been simplified, with tighter ties to our Events Calendar, colour coding of provider categories.

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IHBC celebrates SAHGB 2025 Annual Awards, including SAHGB-IHBC Heritage Research Award success at HESPR member Donald Insall Associates

Posted on 09/01/2026 by IHBC

The IHBC is delighted to celebrate and congratulate the winners of this year’s Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain (SAHGB) awards, including the joint SAHGB-IHBC Heritage Research Award, awarded to Dr Victoria Perry and Isabelle Adamthwaite of IHBC HESPR member Donald Insall Associates (DIA).

IHBC Director Seán O’Reilly said: ‘This was a strong year for candidates but I’m delighted to hear that work from DIA – an IHBC HESPR Company – has been recognised this way too.

‘I’d also like to thank especially Neil Burton IHBC, Director at the Architectural History Practice – another IHBC HESPR company – for his role as a judge on our behalf’.

‘Hopefully a further highlight of this success will be the opportunity for the DIA report’s authors to join us at our 2026 Annual School in Newcastle in June.’

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IHBC’s ‘Members with benefits’: FREE CPD at London’s LPOC Listed Property Show, Olympia, 30-31 Jan

Posted on 09/01/2026 by IHBC

The IHBC is delighted to offer free entry for our members to the Listed Property Owners Club’s (LPOC) annual London Listed Property Show, on 30-31 January 2026 in London’s Olympia (pre-booking essential), with stands still available.

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IHBC’s ‘Save the Date’ notice for all Branch Committees: Have your say at our next online Branch Connection Event, 22 January 2025, 2pm – 4pm

Posted on 09/01/2026 by IHBC

The IHBC is delighted to invite ALL our IHBC Committees to be represented at the next Branch Connection Event, taking place online on 22 January 2026, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm, so if you a Committee member interested in joining in, be sure to let your Branch Committee leads know!

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Designing Building enhances access to 20K+ articles, for all users as graphic links to ‘Construction Knowledge Hubs’ now aid navigation

Posted on 09/01/2026 by IHBC

There are more than 20,000 articles on Designing Buildings (DB), host platform to the IHBC’s Conservation Wiki, about everything to do with the built environment, so aid navigation there’s now a series of knowledge hubs that introduce you to the subject and signpost key articles.

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IHBC’s Research Signpost: Heritage Open Days Festival Impact Review 2025

Posted on 09/01/2026 by IHBC

The Heritage Open Days Festival Impact Review 2025 captures the biggest festival yet, delivered by a growing and increasingly diverse community.

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IHBC features ‘Heritage from the (Private Eye) doorstep’: Nooks & Corners on the ‘nation’s worsening shortage of heritage skills’

Posted on 09/01/2026 by IHBC

Private Eye’s ‘Nooks & Corners’ has taken a moment to highlight the practical issues faced by ‘even careful owners and enthusiastic restorers’ who face the ‘nation’s worsening shortage of heritage skills.’

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Architectural Heritage Fund publishes Annual Review 2024/25

Posted on 09/01/2026 by IHBC

The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) is delighted to be publishing our Annual Review 2024/25, showcasing our work in supporting heritage and community-led regeneration across the UK.

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Scotland’s ‘Properties and Collections Strategy: Towards Sustainable Stewardship’ consultation draft out, open to 23/01

Posted on 09/01/2026 by IHBC

image for illustration: Edinburgh panorama by Fiona Newton

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is inviting people across Scotland to help shape the future of some of the nation’s most important historic places and collections through a new public consultation.

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CITB announces changes to funding and grants

Posted on 09/01/2026 by IHBC

The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has announced a series of changes it is making to the funding and grant system, changes ‘designed to ensure CITB can deliver the greatest value for the greatest number of employers and maximise the value of the Levy for industry’.

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Scottish Government scheme launched: Finding new owners for empty homes

Posted on 09/01/2026 by IHBC

A scheme launched by the Scottish Government aims to help return more empty homes to active use starting with a new online portal.

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IHBC features ‘Heritage from the Global doorstep’: CyArk’s Heritage Amplified Grant (Engaging New Audiences …) and Heritage Documentation Training Grant (Empowering Cultural Preservation) to 23/01 & 30/01

Posted on 09/01/2026 by IHBC

CyArk’s Heritage Amplified Grant will provide recipients with an opportunity to amplify place-based stories of cultural heritage through 3D virtual experience, and its Heritage Documentation Training Grant offers a unique opportunity for 10 emerging professionals to gain photogrammetry training and hands-on experience.

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IHBC welcomes award of OBE to IHBC Chair David McDonald: An ‘extraordinary’ person…

Posted on 02/01/2026 by IHBC

IHBC President, Rebecca Thompson has warmly welcomed the award of an OBE to IHBC Chair David McDonald in the New Year Honours List 2026, an award that ‘recognises the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the UK.’

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IHBC Chair updates on 2026 AGM, calls for proxy vote (accredited members only) ASAP & booking – 7 January 2026, featuring HE’s co-CEO Claudia Kenyatta CBE, from 5.30pm, with 6pm AGM

Posted on 02/01/2026 by IHBC

IHBC Chair David McDonald OBE has updated IHBC members further on plans for the 2026 AGM, on 7 January, opening with Historic England’s Co-Chief Executive Claudia Kenyatta CBE on ‘… roles and priorities – Growth, Place, and the Heritage Sector’ from 5.30pm.

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IHBC’s ‘Save the Date’ notice for all Branch Committees: Have your say at our next online Branch Connection Event, 22 January 2025, 2pm – 4pm

Posted on 02/01/2026 by IHBC

The IHBC is delighted to invite ALL our IHBC Committees to be represented at the next Branch Connection Event, taking place online on 22 January 2026, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm, so if you a Committee member interested in joining in, be sure to let your Branch Committee leads know!

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REMINDER: Lodge your IHBC proxy vote (accredited members only) ASAP & book your online place (members only) for IHBC’s 2026 AGM, 7 January 2026, featuring HE’s co-CEO, from 5.30pm, with 6pm AGM

Posted on 02/01/2026 by IHBC

IHBC Chair David McDonald has updated IHBC members on plans for the 2026 AGM, on 7 January, opening with Historic England’s Co-Chief Executive on ‘… roles and priorities – Growth, Place, and the Heritage Sector’ from 5.30pm.

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IHBC’s Annual School ‘Save the Date’ notice & Home Page launch: IHBC’s 2026 Newcastle School, 18-20 June, on ‘Adaptive Reuse’ & up to 20 hours CPD – accessible, interdisciplinary, cost-effective

Posted on 02/01/2026 by IHBC

The IHBC is delighted to announce the launch of the Home Page of the 2026 Annual School, to take place in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 18-20 June, on ‘Adaptive Reuse’ and across up to 20 hours CPD.

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IHBC’s 2025 Parliamentary Briefing launches research-led ‘5 Commitments to Help Heritage Skills in Conservation’… From Crafts in Crisis to Rubbish in Retrofit

Posted on 02/01/2026 by IHBC

Image Credits: S O’Reilly IHBC & F Newton IHBC

On 18 November the IHBC hosted the 2025 Westminster launch of its new ‘5 Commitments to Help Heritage Skills in Conservation’, informed by cross-cutting research into challenges across the full landscape of IHBC’s heritage skills interests… ‘From Crafts in Crisis to Rubbish in Retrofit’.

Images:

  • The Earl of Devon, Parliamentary sponsor for the IHBC’s Briefing, introducing the background to the IHBC’s ‘5 Commitments to Help Heritage Skills in Conservation’
  • Linsey Farnsworth MP for Amber Valley, offering a personal perspective on the importance and potential of Heritage Skills in Conservation
  • IHBC President Rebecca Thompson IHBC, Director of Property at St Paul’s Cathedral, launching the IHBC’s ‘5 Commitments to Help Heritage Skills in Conservation’
  • Research report author Jonathan Taylor IHBC, introducing the new research commissioned by the IHBC
  • General View of the Briefing
  • IHBC Officers returning after a busy evening in Westminster and the House of Commons
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