Hamish Ogston Foundation Launches £6.2m Apprenticeship Scheme with National Trust to Tackle Heritage Skills Shortage and Protect At-Risk Heritage

Apprentice carpenters will undertake crucial conservation work at historic buildings up and down the country as part of their accredited training. Picture by National Trust.

The Hamish Ogston Foundation has launched a new scheme, in partnership with the National Trust, to protect Britain’s great heritage buildings by tackling the sharp decline in the traditional building and heritage skills sector.

The scheme, named the Hamish Ogston Foundation Heritage Crafts Apprenticeship Programme, is a £6.2million project to rebuild the heritage conservation labour force in the UK. 52 apprentice stonemasons, carpenters and joiners will earn while they learn as they perform crucial restorative works on historic buildings up and down the UK.

Stonemasons require years of expert instruction as repair works to historic buildings are often complex and require great skill and experience to be undertaken safely and maintain the quality of the building. Picture by National Trust.

These apprentices will be learning from seasoned heritage conservation professionals, stationed at National Trust places around the country including Attingham Park, Clumber Park, Cotehele, Fountains Abbey, Bransdale, Hardwick, Hughenden, Lacock Abbey, Lanhydrock, Lyme, Montacute House and Saltram.

Sam Tinsdeall, specialist craft building supervisor, from whom apprentices will be learning at Clumber Park. Picture by National Trust.

Once their training is complete, each apprentice will also benefit from a one-year work placement to further embed their heritage conservation skills and put them into practice. By the time they’ve finished their training and work placement, each apprentice will have been employed by National Trust for between three and five years and will have the skills and experience they need to embark on their career and make a significant contribution towards protecting and preserving the nation’s heritage for the enjoyment of generations to come.

Robert Bargery, Heritage Director at The Hamish Ogston Foundation: “We are delighted to partner with the National Trust to provide high-quality, fully-funded training opportunities for young people that will set them on course for a truly satisfying, long-term career.

“Historic buildings are among Britain’s greatest assets and some of the finest are in the care of the National Trust. This is a chance for motivated young people to leave their mark on them, literally, and help ensure that these priceless works of art and architecture are passed to future generations in the best possible condition.

“This is part of a £25m investment the Hamish Ogston Foundation is making in heritage skills training and we are proud to be taking the lead in delivering another project of real value to the nation in the Platinum Jubilee year.”

Hilary McGrady, Director-General at the National Trust said: “Each of the extraordinary buildings and landmarks we look after is testament to thousands of hours of craft skills, and the care and dedication of generations past. Keeping these skills alive is fundamental to passing on our heritage for everyone to enjoy.

“We’re immensely grateful to the Hamish Ogston Foundation for this very generous support. It will enable apprentices across the country to get hands on with heritage, earning as they learn and gaining a nationally recognised qualification that will help them play a part in securing the future of our nations’ heritage.”

The first cohort of apprentices will begin their training in September this year. For further information and to apply visit https://www.nationaltrustjobs.org.uk/where-you-could-work/apprenticeships/

For more information on our other heritage apprenticeship initiatives, please visit https://www.hamishogstonfoundation.org/heritage/building-heritage-skills