CIOB building conservation courses receive English Heritage endorsement

The Chartered Institute of Building’s (CIOB) ‘Understanding Building Conservation’ course and ‘Building Conservation Certification Scheme’ have received official endorsement from English Heritage.

The Understanding Building Conservation course has a focus on the up-to-date approach to building conservation, considering the broad ingredients of understanding and dealing with technical issues and heritage values and how we bring them all together with appropriate processes. This two-day course provides eligibility for the Building Conservation Scheme in lieu of other eligible criteria.

The Building Conservation Certification Scheme, launched in June 2017 in response to a growing demand for ‘certified’ conservation specialists, applies the same criteria as other similar schemes, but with energy efficiency and sustainability in recognition that climate change must play a part in everybody's role. It is also a scheme that accepts a far greater number of roles within industry than any other scheme.

English Heritage became part of the CIOB pilot conservation scheme in 2015, leading to the introduction of a new type of building conservation certification. The three-tiered system covers many of the important roles that English Heritage staff carry out and has supported career growth and recognised the importance of the many estates management roles across the country. English Heritage immediately recognised and welcomed the importance of this step change and are currently supporting their staff as they follow this route to achieve building conservation certification.In addition to the building conservation course and scheme, this week sees the CIOB Annual Conservation Conference: Future Skills for Traditional Buildings, one of the leading events in historic conservation, on 5 November 2020, which is also endorsed by English Heritage. The event has moved to a virtual platform for 2020, and explores how the construction industry can balance the shortage of traditional skills with the need to move to modern methods of working.

Stewart Wright, Head of Survey and Asset Management at English Heritage, said:

“English Heritage is delighted to partner with the CIOB for a second year and endorse both the Conservation Conference and Conservation Certification scheme. The development of future skills is at the core of our work, which is to maintain the national collection of historic buildings.”