CITB backs new Sector Skills Plan to safeguard the future of heritage construction skills
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is supporting the launch of the new Sector Skills Plan for the Repair, Maintenance and Improvement (RMI) Heritage and Traditional Build sector, bringing together employers, industry bodies and training providers to address some of the most pressing skills challenges facing the UK’s historic built environment.
The plan is being unveiled at the National Federation of Builders’ (NFB) Heritage and Traditional Build conference. The conference is taking place at Painters’ Hall, the 16th century home of the Worship Company of Painter-Stainers, making it the ideal location for the plan’s launch.
Led by the NFB and developed in partnership with a wide range of employers, industry groups, education providers, and heritage organisations, the plan identifies five priority areas where collaborative action is needed: workforce development, sector leadership, training provision, net zero and climate change, and procurement.
Together, these areas help to create clearer pathways into heritage construction careers, to strengthen specialist training opportunities, and support long-term sustainability within the sector. The heritage construction sector plays a fundamental role in preserving the historic buildings and places across the UK, but employers are continuing to face challenges in recruiting and developing workers with the specialist and technical skills needed to carry out restorations, conservation, and maintenance work.
The plan has been developed by industry stakeholders and is designed to ensure the heritage construction sector has the workforce, training provision and leadership needed to meet current and future demand, while protecting the specialist skills required to maintain and restore historic buildings.
The RMI (Heritage and Traditional Build) Sector Skills Plan forms part of CITB’s wider programme of Sector Skills Plans, which are tailored, employer-led strategies designed to address the specific workforce challenges facing different parts of the construction industry. Three plans have already been launched covering homebuilding, infrastructure and RMI (domestic retrofit), with the heritage plan representing the latest step in giving employers a stronger voice in shaping skills investment and support across the sector.
Bringing the industry around a shared programme, this Sector Skills Plan aims to provide practical solutions that directly reflect employer needs, while making it clearer and easier to access rewarding careers in heritage construction.
Tim Balcon, chief executive of CITB, said: “The heritage construction sector is responsible for maintaining some of our most important landmarks and buildings. This Sector Skills Plan has been developed by the industry, for the industry, bringing together training providers, employers, and stakeholder organisations to help identify the actions that need to take place to strengthen the future of the workforce.
“CITB is proud to support and invest in this industry-owned initiative, to help give a greater say to employers in how skills support is shaped, while also opening pathways for new entrants and safeguarding specialist expertise for generations to come.”
James M. Butcher, deputy chief Executive of the NFB, and the industry chair of the plan, said: “With one in five homes and one in three commercial properties traditionally built, ensuring that we have a sufficient and competent workforce able to look after these buildings is essential and that is what this plan is all about. Whether it is repairing, maintaining, improving, renovating, restoring, retrofitting or adapting for the future, there is plenty of work to be done but not always the supply chain able to do it.
“This plan acts as a framework, setting out the key skills challenges facing our part of the sector and calling for action from across industry to help tackle them. Protecting heritage and traditional buildings for the future requires a lot of love and attention, and keeping heritage and traditional build skills alive does too.”
Alongside the launch of the plan, several projects and interventions are being launched, including:
- Upskilling travel support pilot – reimbursing eligible employees’ travel and accommodation costs (up to £335) to access specialist training unavailable locally
- Pipeline feasibility study – with Historic England, exploring whether greater visibility of future heritage work could help employers invest confidently in training
- NFB’s National Heritage Skills Forum – bringing industry voices together to strengthen sector leadership and coordination
- Skills and knowledge statements – supporting the development of heritage and traditional build occupations and competencies.
The RMI (Heritage and Traditional Build) Sector Skills Plan is intended to be a live programme of activity that evolves alongside the needs of the industry, ensuring employers can continue to shape the skills priorities as market conditions, technologies, and workforce requirements change.
The RMI (Heritage and Traditional Build) Sector Skills Plan can be accessed and read on the CITB website or downloaded here: