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BUILDING CONTRACTORS
In addition, under a new pilot scheme all
specialist lead workers are required to hold the
CSCS heritage skills card. This requirement
is being showcased on the project to repair
the lead sheet roofs and gutters at Audley End,
Essex. English Heritage is looking to expand
this scheme to encompass other trades, such
as carpentry, stone masonry and roofing as the
take up of the heritage skills card increases.
CRAFT ACCREDITATIONS
Although approximately 20 per cent of
the UK’s building stock is traditionally
constructed and over 100 years old, the
National Federation of Roofing Contractors
is the only trade body in the construction
industry to have established an accreditation
system for the skills required. A more general
system of accreditation is offered by the
Institute of Conservation (Icon) for a wide
range of specialist conservators through the
Professional Accreditation of Conservator-
Restorers scheme (PACR).
Both accrediting bodies provide registers
of companies employing accredited people,
but it is important to recognise that only
individuals can be accredited, not their
employers.
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF
ROOFING CONTRACTORS
NFRC provides accreditation for roofing
contractors in the use and detailing of
the various types of roofing slate, tile
and leadwork used traditionally. Roofers
are accredited in specific specialist fields
(Collyweston limestone slate roofing, or
ornamental leadwork for example) based
on their level of qualification, a portfolio of
evidence of their work and on-site assessment.
Accreditation is renewed every two years and
is at three levels:
• heritage roof masters offering both
quality workmanship and design advice
• heritage craft roofers offering
quality workmanship
• heritage craft roof operatives able
to carry out work as specified
Details of firms employing accredited roofers
can be found online on the National Heritage
Roofing Contractors’ Register (see further
information). The register is maintained
by the NFRC and is endorsed by English
Heritage, Cadw, the Northern Ireland
Environment Agency, Historic Scotland,
The National Heritage Training Group, and
ConstructionSkills.
THE INSTITUTE OF CONSERVATION
Icon’s membership includes a broad spectrum
of conservation specialists from conservators
of artefacts and museum collections to
conservators of historic architectural fabric.
They include, for example, conservators of
stained glass and leaded lights, sculpture,
furniture, paintings and textiles.
The institute maintains an online
database, the Conservation Register, to
provide details of specialist conservator-
restorers who have been accredited by
either Icon or certain other specialist
bodies such as British Antique Furniture
Restorers’ Association (BAFRA) and the
British Horological Institute (BHI). Icon
and BHI members are accredited under the
Professional Accreditation of Conservator-
Restorers system and are entitled to use the
initials PACR after their name.
The accreditation means that the
conservator-restorer has worked for a
minimum number of years after completion
of their training and that he or she is subject
to ongoing requirements such as continuing
professional development (CPD) and
adherence to professional guidelines and codes
of ethics. Only the most skilled conservators
will ever be able to achieve full accreditation,
and the number of specialist conservators
working in the historic environment who are
accredited under this scheme remains small.
Nevertheless, there is considerable potential
for more building conservators to gain PACR
accreditation.
LOOKING AHEAD
Although there is clearly room in the
building industry for more accreditation
schemes like the National Heritage Roofing
Contractors’ Register, the needs of the
industry have to some extent been satisfied by
the establishment of the CSCS heritage skills
card, by those accreditation schemes that
already exist, and by the accessibility afforded
by the annual distribution of The Building
Conservation Directory to 10,000 specifiers,
and by its website BuildingConservation.
com. However, for skilled craftspeople to
predominate in the repair of traditional
and historic buildings, greater awareness is
needed of the importance of using skilled
craftspeople, and skill levels must be nurtured
by the industry. In particular, the value to
employers of having a fully carded workforce
needs to be better understood, and more
specialist craftspeople need to aim for full
accreditation.
The system may not yet be perfect but
finding craftsmanship is relatively simple, if
you know where to look, and there is beauty in
simplicity.
Further Information
The Conservation Register:
The Construction Industry Training Board:
Construction Skills Certification Scheme:
National Heritage Training Group:
National Heritage Roofing Contractors’
Register:
members/heritage-roofer
Details of Northern Ireland’s Construction
Skills Register are available on the website
of the Construction Employers Federation
of Northern Ireland:
Skills Needs Analysis 2013: Repair,
Maintenance and Energy Efficiency
Retrofit of Traditional (pre-1919)
Buildings in England and Scotland 2013,
English Heritage, Historic Scotland and
Construction Industry Training Board 2013
JONATHAN TAYLOR
MSc IHBC is the editor of
The Building Conservation Directory
.
The CSCS Cards
All CSCS cards show that the holder has passed the health and safety test.
Colours relate to skill type and level
Colour NVQ/SVQor
equivalent
Holders
Yellow
N/A
Regular and occasional site visitors who are not in a ‘construction
related occupation’ (CRO) – this basic card shows only that the
holder is up to speed on health and safety, and is suitable for all
conservators and professionals
White
N/A
Conservators, craftspeople and others skilled in a CRO that does
not have a related NVQ; members of approved professional
bodies; and academically qualified people (see
for approved degrees, HNDs etc)
Green
Level 1
Construction site operatives (eg labourers) with either NVQ/SVQ
level 1 or ‘industry accreditation’
Red
Trainee
(Level 2)
Site operatives registered on a relevant NVQ/SVQ course who have
not yet achieved level 2
Blue
Level 2
‘Skilled workers’ with either NVQ/SVQ level 2 or the equivalent City
& Guilds; where a full NVQ/SVQ route does not exist, ‘trade specific
units’ may satisfy requirements for a ‘craft unit level’ blue card
Gold
Level 3
Craftspeople, technicians and supervisors with either NVQ/SVQ
level 3 or a City & Guilds advanced craft certificate; conservators
registered on the Conservation Register (Icon)
NOTE Gold cards include CSCS heritage skills card
Black
Levels 4 or 5
(or QCF level
6 or 7)
Managers and senior managers
(QCF – ‘qualification and credit framework’ – level 6 includes BTEC
advanced professional diplomas, certificates and awards, bachelor
degrees, graduate certificates and diplomas)
