Induction for the Second Cohort of Apprentices of the Hamish Ogston Foundation Heritage Building Skills Programme

The newest cohort of apprentice heritage stonemasons, carpenters, decorators and plasterers on the Hamish Ogston Foundation Heritage Building Skills Programme were recently inducted on their courses at an event in Leeds, welcoming them to the scheme. 

At the induction, hosted by Historic England, the new apprentices were given an opportunity to meet their fellow apprentices, learn more about the Programme, ask questions of their peers and be inspired by talks from heritage master craftspeople.

The second cohort of Hamish Ogston Foundation Heritage Building Skills Programme apprentices, pictured here in the City Varieties Music Hall at Temple Works [Credit: Historic England]

The apprentices, which include a carpenter joiner, a painter decorator, two stone masons and three plasterers, also got the chance to find out about the exciting ongoing transformation of the Temple Works and toured the beautiful Grade II* listed City Varieties Music Hall.

Constructed between 1836 and 1840, Temple Works is a former flax mill in Holbeck, Leeds. Built in the Egyptian Revival style of architecture, the building is an iconic landmark of West Yorkshire [Credit: Historic England] 

The Hamish Ogston Foundation Heritage Building Skills Programme is a major five-year apprenticeship and training scheme for heritage construction skills focused on the North of England, funded by £4.325million from the Foundation, running 2021-2026. The programme is now moving into its second year, and so far, 21 trainees and apprentices have benefitted from the programme.

The aims of this Programme are threefold: to address long-standing heritage skills shortages in the construction industry, provide unique earn-while-they-learn opportunities for those from disadvantaged backgrounds and to restore historic buildings in the North of England on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register.

Visit https://www.hamishogstonfoundation.org/heritage for more information on our heritage initiatives

To learn more about the Hamish Ogston Foundation Heritage Building Skills Programme, visit https://historicengland.org.uk/services-skills/training-skills/work-based-training/heritage-apprenticeships/the-hamish-ogston-foundation-heritage-building-skills-programme/