{"id":45006,"date":"2026-01-02T16:17:17","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T16:17:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=45006"},"modified":"2026-01-02T16:17:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T16:17:17","slug":"ihbcs-2025-parliamentary-briefing-launches-research-led-5-commitments-to-help-heritage-skills-in-conservation-from-crafts-in-crisis-to-rubbish-in-retrofit-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=45006","title":{"rendered":"IHBC\u2019s 2025 Parliamentary Briefing launches research-led \u20185 Commitments to Help Heritage Skills in Conservation\u2019\u2026 From Crafts in Crisis to Rubbish in Retrofit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Earl-of-Devon-IHBC-Briefing-181125-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"688\" height=\"855\" data-id=\"44688\" src=\"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Earl-of-Devon-IHBC-Briefing-181125-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-44688\" srcset=\"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Earl-of-Devon-IHBC-Briefing-181125-1.png 688w, https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Earl-of-Devon-IHBC-Briefing-181125-1-241x300.png 241w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 688px) 100vw, 688px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Linsey-Farnsworth-MP-IHBC-Briefing-181125-scaled-e1763748653919.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"961\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"44689\" src=\"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Linsey-Farnsworth-MP-IHBC-Briefing-181125-961x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-44689\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Rebecca-Thompson-IHBC-President-181125.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"44690\" src=\"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Rebecca-Thompson-IHBC-President-181125-768x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-44690\" srcset=\"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Rebecca-Thompson-IHBC-President-181125-768x1025.png 768w, https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Rebecca-Thompson-IHBC-President-181125-225x300.png 225w, https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Rebecca-Thompson-IHBC-President-181125.png 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Jonathan-Taylor-Cathedral-Communications-181125.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"918\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"44691\" src=\"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Jonathan-Taylor-Cathedral-Communications-181125-918x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-44691\" srcset=\"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Jonathan-Taylor-Cathedral-Communications-181125-918x1024.png 918w, https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Jonathan-Taylor-Cathedral-Communications-181125-269x300.png 269w, https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Jonathan-Taylor-Cathedral-Communications-181125-768x857.png 768w, https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Jonathan-Taylor-Cathedral-Communications-181125.png 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 918px) 100vw, 918px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IHBC-Parliamentary-Briefing-general-view-181125.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"832\" data-id=\"44692\" src=\"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IHBC-Parliamentary-Briefing-general-view-181125.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-44692\" srcset=\"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IHBC-Parliamentary-Briefing-general-view-181125.png 1000w, https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IHBC-Parliamentary-Briefing-general-view-181125-300x250.png 300w, https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IHBC-Parliamentary-Briefing-general-view-181125-768x639.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/HOC-IHBC-Parliamentary-Briefing-181125-general-view.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"867\" data-id=\"44693\" src=\"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/HOC-IHBC-Parliamentary-Briefing-181125-general-view.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-44693\" srcset=\"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/HOC-IHBC-Parliamentary-Briefing-181125-general-view.png 1000w, https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/HOC-IHBC-Parliamentary-Briefing-181125-general-view-300x260.png 300w, https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/HOC-IHBC-Parliamentary-Briefing-181125-general-view-768x666.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><sub><em>Image Credits: S O\u2019Reilly IHBC &amp; F Newton IHBC<\/em><\/sub><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On 18 November the IHBC hosted the 2025 Westminster launch of its new \u20185 Commitments to Help Heritage Skills in Conservation\u2019, informed by cross-cutting research into challenges across the full landscape of IHBC\u2019s heritage skills interests\u2026 \u2018<em><a href=\"https:\/\/ihbc.org.uk\/aboutmain\/ParliamentaryBriefings\/FB\/index.html\">From Crafts in Crisis to Rubbish in Retrofit<\/a>\u2019.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Images:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Earl of Devon, Parliamentary sponsor for the IHBC\u2019s Briefing, introducing the background to the IHBC\u2019s \u20185 Commitments to Help Heritage Skills in Conservation\u2019<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Linsey Farnsworth MP for Amber Valley, offering a personal perspective on the importance and potential of Heritage Skills in Conservation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>IHBC President Rebecca Thompson IHBC, Director of Property at St Paul\u2019s Cathedral, launching the IHBC\u2019s \u20185 Commitments to Help Heritage Skills in Conservation\u2019<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Research report author Jonathan Taylor IHBC, introducing the new research commissioned by the IHBC<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>General View of the Briefing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>IHBC Officers returning after a busy evening in Westminster and the House of Commons<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>IHBC\u2019S 5 COMMITMENTS TO HELP HERITAGE SKILLS IN CONSERVATION\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1. Advocate: <\/strong><em>Present targeted parliamentary-level briefings across the UK and its Home Nations.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2<\/strong>.<strong> Educate: <\/strong><em>Enhance access to IHBC standards and services across all built and historic environment practices and operations.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>3. Investigate<\/strong>: <em>Investigate the complex challenges in heritage management processes and skills and respond accordingly.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>4.<\/strong> <strong>Celebrate: <\/strong><em>Celebrate the achievements of heritage skillS in conservation, helped by our CREATIVE Conservation Fund.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>5. Integrate: <\/strong><em>Establish and host a new network, open and free, to support service leads delivering conservation-related learning, training and education.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>See <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/ihbc.org.uk\/aboutmain\/ParliamentaryBriefings\/FB\/index.html\">HERE<\/a> <em>for \u2018IHBC\u2019s 5 Commitments\u2019 in detail<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>See <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ihbc.org.uk\/aboutmain\/ParliamentaryBriefings\/index.html\">HERE<\/a><em> for research and related references and links<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>See more on the IHBC\u2019s <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ihbc.org.uk\/resources_head\/creative_conservation_fund\/index.html\">CREATIVE Conservation Fund<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>IHBC President Rebecca Thompson, who inspired this IHBC skills initiative, said: \u2018Thank you to the Earl of Devon for sponsoring the event and to Linsey Farnsworth MP for supporting our vision.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IHBCs-5-commitments-to-help-heritage-skills-in-conservation-Briefing-181125.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"719\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IHBCs-5-commitments-to-help-heritage-skills-in-conservation-Briefing-181125-719x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-44694\" style=\"width:293px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IHBCs-5-commitments-to-help-heritage-skills-in-conservation-Briefing-181125-719x1024.png 719w, https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IHBCs-5-commitments-to-help-heritage-skills-in-conservation-Briefing-181125-211x300.png 211w, https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IHBCs-5-commitments-to-help-heritage-skills-in-conservation-Briefing-181125-768x1093.png 768w, https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IHBCs-5-commitments-to-help-heritage-skills-in-conservation-Briefing-181125.png 793w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 719px) 100vw, 719px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>\u2018I was delighted to share the IHBC\u2019s \u20185 Commitments\u2019 as the institute\u2019s response to the new research &#8211; supported by the IHBC\u2019s CREATIVE Conservation Fund \u2013 into \u2018Heritage Skills in Conservation\u2019.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2018The scope of the research reflects the concerns of our IHBC members.&nbsp; We constitute a diverse range of Conservation Professionals in critical practice areas for heritage care, from craft skills and professional practice to, of course, retrofit.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2018The session in Parliament enabled us to communicate our commitment to address the needs of the heritage sector and the positive impact this will have throughout the built environment, especially in that most complex of practices, the retrofit of our traditional building stock.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>IHBC Chair and lead for the evening David McDonald said: \u2018I was delighted to chair the IHBC&#8217;s Parliamentary Briefing and reception on Heritage Skills in Conservation, and to welcome, on behalf of the IHBC. the ground-breaking scoping research by Cathedral Communications, supported by our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ihbc.org.uk\/resources_head\/creative_conservation_fund\/index.html\">CREATIVE Conservation Fund<\/a>.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2018This Parliamentary engagement follows on from our 2022 All Party Parliamentary Group report on \u2018Heritage Values\u2019.&nbsp; This new IHBC-commissioned, independent research captures the wide range of serious skills shortages and highlights gaps across all heritage practice areas relevant to our shared sector priorities.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2018Though this research is still evolving, it captures more than enough to inform the IHBC\u2019s own \u20185 Commitments to Help Heritage Skills in Conservation\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I look forward to working with others to progress our essential, and demanding, commitments.&#8217;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rebecca Thompson writes in her introduction to IHBC\u2019s \u20185 Commitments\u2019 to Heritage Skills:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Heritage-Skills-in-Conservation-IHBC-Parliamentary-Briefing-181125.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"727\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Heritage-Skills-in-Conservation-IHBC-Parliamentary-Briefing-181125-727x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-44695\" style=\"width:288px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Heritage-Skills-in-Conservation-IHBC-Parliamentary-Briefing-181125-727x1024.png 727w, https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Heritage-Skills-in-Conservation-IHBC-Parliamentary-Briefing-181125-213x300.png 213w, https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Heritage-Skills-in-Conservation-IHBC-Parliamentary-Briefing-181125-768x1082.png 768w, https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Heritage-Skills-in-Conservation-IHBC-Parliamentary-Briefing-181125.png 828w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 727px) 100vw, 727px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><em>\u2018I am delighted to welcome the IHBC\u2019s response to a new report into \u2018Heritage Skills in Conservation\u2019, supported by the IHBC\u2019s <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ihbc.org.uk\/resources_head\/creative_conservation_fund\/index.html\"><em>CREATIVE Conservation Fund<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>The report is <\/em><em>an independent scoping of barriers to key skills needed for successful built and historic environment conservation<\/em><em>. It helps shape our response to this costly and damaging story of skills deficits and disappointments.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Ranging <\/em><em>from old crafts and new trades to professional practice and<\/em><em>, of course,<\/em><em> retrofit<\/em><em>, its grand and ambitious sweep captures a challenging account of poor decisions and missed opportunities.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>The wide scope reflects the concerns of IHBC members who, as Conservation Professionals, work across development processes to achieve the best viable outcomes for valued places and buildings.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>That scope also reflects the IHBC\u2019s successful case to apply for a Charter, as we continue to focus on enhancing the public benefits of cross-cutting and interdisciplinary conservation practice.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Here, our own \u2018Five Commitments\u2019 lists how we will respond to the skills challenges captured in the report. So I hope everyone can use this work too, to help you seize on any opportunities to address them.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>See links and more at <a href=\"https:\/\/ihbc.org.uk\/aboutmain\/ParliamentaryBriefings\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/ihbc.org.uk\/aboutmain\/ParliamentaryBriefings\/\">Parliamentary Briefings | The Institute of Historic Building Conservation<\/a> including the \u20185 Commitments\u2019 at <a href=\"https:\/\/ihbc.org.uk\/aboutmain\/ParliamentaryBriefings\/FB\/index.html\">IHBC\u2019s 5 Commitments to Help Heritage Skills in Conservation<\/a> and the scoping research at <a href=\"https:\/\/ihbc.org.uk\/aboutmain\/ParliamentaryBriefings\/HeritageSkills\/index.html\">Heritage Skills in Conservation An independent sector survey<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>See more background to IHBC\u2019s Parliamentary engagement on the NewsBlogs <a href=\"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=35133\">HERE<\/a> and on the archived website of the IHBC\u2019s All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Conservation, Places &amp; People <a href=\"https:\/\/ihbc.org.uk\/appg\/\">HERE<\/a>, as well as \u2018THE VALUE OF HERITAGE: FIRST REPORT of the APPG\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/ihbc.org.uk\/appg\/resources\/CPP-APPF-First-Report---The-Value-of-Heritage-011222.pdf\">HERE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newsblogsnew.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/CCF_logo_v1_120820.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/newsblogsnew.ihbc.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/CCF_logo_v1_120820.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-27603\" style=\"width:209px;height:auto\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>See more on the IHBC\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ihbc.org.uk\/resources_head\/creative_conservation_fund\/index.html\">CREATIVE Conservation Fund<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Image Credits: S O\u2019Reilly IHBC &amp; F Newton IHBC On 18 November the IHBC hosted the 2025 Westminster launch of its new \u20185 Commitments to Help Heritage Skills in Conservation\u2019, informed by cross-cutting research into challenges across the full landscape &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=45006\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[6,17,18,187,30,23,9,29,31,16,13,22],"class_list":["post-45006","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ihbc-newsblog","tag-building","tag-climate-change","tag-conservation","tag-crafts","tag-environment","tag-expertise","tag-government","tag-heritage","tag-nature","tag-planning","tag-retrofit","tag-skills"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45006","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=45006"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45006\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45007,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45006\/revisions\/45007"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=45006"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=45006"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=45006"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}