The National Federation of Builders (NFB) has announced it is launching a new National Heritage Skills Forum aimed at providing leadership and co-ordination of heritage skills development on a national stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
National Federation of Builders writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unveiled, at the NFB\u2019s Heritage and Traditional Build conference at the 16th century Painters\u2019 Hall in the historic City of London, the move coincides with the publication of NFB\u2019s and CITB\u2019s RMI Sector Skills Plan: Heritage and Traditional Build. The new National Heritage Skills Forum will look to fill the gap left by the demise of the much-loved National Heritage Training Group several years ago and has specifically been instituted as a response to the need for \u2018long term cross sector co-ordination and collaboration on heritage and traditional building skills needs\u2019 as identified in the Sector Skills Plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leading the Forum will fall to the expert hand of Claire Wallbridge who was recently appointed as the NFB\u2019s Director of Heritage Skills. Claire is widely recognised as a national leader in heritage skills and has decades of skills experience including as the group training manager of the Natural Stone Industry Training Group (NSITG) and the CITB lead for the National Heritage Training Group. Claire founded Women in Natural Stone (W.I.N.S.), is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Masons, has also chaired both the Craft & Training Committee and the HRH Duke of Gloucester Awards for Stone Masonry. The Forum\u2019s stated purpose is: to provide leadership and coordination of heritage construction sector skills development, supporting and promoting traditional building crafts, skills and training throughout the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Key activities will include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Commenting Claire Wallbridge said: \u2018I am delighted to be part of this significant step in NFB\u2019s commitment to the heritage sector and to have the opportunity to contribute to its already outstanding commitment to the heritage construction trades and crafts. Our ambition is to bring together the many voices involved in heritage skills and training, strengthening coordination, advocacy and support for the skills our workforce needs now and in the future. There are many dedicated contractors, stakeholders and sector partners whose knowledge and support will be invaluable as we develop this exciting new initiative together.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chair of the NFB\u2019s Heritage and Traditional Build group, Clare Watson said: \u2018It has long been my ambition that the NFB takes a truly leading role when it comes to the heritage and traditional build sector. We\u2019ve successfully launched a heritage and traditional build conference, published a dedicated magazine, developed a Heritage Approved Contractor Mark, led the CITB RMI Sector Skills Plan for Heritage and Traditional Build and now we\u2019re showing our commitment to skills and training too. I\u2019m delighted that the NFB has stepped forward when others have stepped back and I know that our appointment of Claire Wallbridge means that our new Forum has the very best chance of success. Those of us who remember the old National Heritage Training Group know how valuable such an organisation can be, and we aim to do even better\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new Forum is funded by the NFB with support from sponsors, including the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation, the home of heritage-specialist scaffolders and whose members have provided heritage specialist scaffolding on projects such as Blenheim Palace, Buckingham Palace and Salford Cathedral. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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