History Features

The Traditional Building Craft Skills in England Report, which is backed by ConstructionSkills, the skills people for the construction industry, and English Heritage, says pre-1919 buildings across the three counties are at risk because most of the people repairing them do not have the required skills.

Chenies Tudor Manor House

The problem could affect listed buildings and many local landmarks such as Bedfordshire's historic Woburn Abbey and Bushmead Priory, Knebworth House in Hertfordshire or even historic Chenies Tudor Manor House in Buckinghamshire.

In the Chilterns almost three in ten contractors (28%) reported problems recruiting workers with traditional building skills, with plasterers and joiners the most difficult to find.

Seamus Hanna from the National Heritage Training Group told the BBC that the shortfall is in traditional building skills:

"We are talking about up-skilling regular trades people such as carpenters, bricklayers, joiners, stonemasons, painters and decorators, by offering training in additional heritage skills and competencies to allow them to work on historic, and in some cases, listed, buildings.

There is a serious lack of skilled tradesmen.

"There are 109,000 people working in this sector, but only around a third of those actually use traditional materials.  So clearly the other two thirds are not fully equipped to do this work because they use modern materials and modern alternatives which just aren't suitable for traditional buildings.

"They will have underpinning skills, but not the knowledge or competence required.  92% can be classified as general builders, while only 8% are conservation or heritage specialists.

"Our precious buildings need specialist care and attention from craftspeople of the highest calibre" explained Seamus.

Listen to the full interview here:

The NHTG and its partners have subsequently announced a one million pound cash investment to pave the way for new training heritage training academies and an extension of the heritage training programme.

"We have developed a new Heritage Apprenticeship Programme which is a three year, rather than the usual two year construction industry, training programme.  Trainee Apprentices would then undertake their college training alongside in-company training.

"Our objective is to encourage more trades people to take advantage of the new heritage trades qualifications and training, potentially taking their careers - and earning potential - into a brand new league," said Seamus.