Heritage Skills in Education (HSed) focuses on the craft and professional skills required to conserve, renovate, adapt and maintain the fabric of historic buildings within the North East.

 

Working with schools, colleges and universities on a year-long project, HSed will encourage collaboration between: education professionals, craftspeople, construction and conservation professionals and heritage managers, to deliver meaningful learning in a real-world context.

 

Each educational establishment will field a team who will compete against the others in their category (school, college, university) on the projects as detailed below. As part of the project teams will have access to one or more mentors who will be available for expert advice – this can be on a scale to suit the mentor, whether this is just by email or involves a trip in to see the students.

 

The project will co-ordinate a series of activities with regional schools, colleges and universities alongside a mentoring programme from professionals and craftspeople.  These programmes will embed an awareness of the values and sector demand for heritage skills trainees amongst students.

Using proven enterprise and vocational training models, developed with teaching staff, craftspeople and historic buildings staff, HSed will help a wide age range of students create career pathways and gain certified experience through a range of activities designed to appeal to all learning styles.

By the end of the project, students will be able to understand materials, the importance and re-use of historic buildings, understand why we need to reduce the at risk status of regional listed buildings and most importantly have greater understanding of the variety of careers available to them in the heritage sector.

If you are interested in being involved in any capacity please contact andie.harris@nect.org.uk