Construction Industry Training Board NI (CITB NI), as part of an ongoing heritage project supported by the Covid Recovery Employment and Skills Initiative for Heritage funded by the Department for Communities and administered by the Heritage Fund with further support from Department for Economy, has announced details of a subsidised assessment programme to support 15 candidates to achieve an NVQ Level 3 in various Heritage Skills Occupations.
The qualification will allow those who have gained skills and experience through their work to achieve a formal qualification that recognises their expertise. To be eligible, participants will need to be over 18, based in Northern Ireland and working in a relevant role that allows them to showcase and build up experience in one of the areas of heritage expertise including: Wood Occupations, Fibrous Plastering, Solid Plastering, Heritage Metalwork, Stone Masonry or Thatching. Candidates will be assessed through the Department for Communities Heritage Skills Centre at Moira.
Achieving the qualification will allow candidates to apply for industry card schemes, such as the CSR Gold Heritage Skills Card. With limited opportunities to achieve a recognised heritage qualification through the college and training network, this qualification will help to recognise the skills of those already working in heritage construction. Additionally, the scheme will also allow experienced craftspeople who already hold a recognised heritage qualification to undertake assessor training, so they can help to support new candidates entering the industry.
An information session will take place 24th October 2024, after which applications will open for assessment. Induction for assessment will take place in Jan 2025, with candidates completing within 1 year.
Barry Neilson OBE, Chief Executive of CITB NI, said:
“We are delighted to announce details of the subsided NVQ Level 3 award in heritage skills. This formal qualification is part of an ongoing project with Department for Communities Historic Environment Division which reiterates the importance of protecting and developing much valued heritage skills in the construction industry. We would encourage interested candidates to take part in the forthcoming information session and wish all successful candidates the very best of luck.”
Further information visit https://www.citbni.org.uk/Heritage-Project/NVQ-Assessment.aspx and follow CITB NI on Facebook, X and Instagram #BuildYourCareer.
