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Initiated by the North East Heritage Environment Forum and hosted by NECT, the Heritage Skills Initiative (HSI) has identified how severe the skills shortage is in the region and how it is responding to that gap. It has determined ways of stemming the increasing heritage skills shortage by examining opportunities, raising awareness and creating the training and partnership opportunities needed to address the skills gap in those trades required to restore and maintain the historic environment.

Teamforce are one of many contractors working with HSI creating training opportunities and providing awareness raising of heritage skills in the North East.   

HSI offer  courses in the following traditional building skills:

• Dry Stone Walling

• Stone Masonry 

• Sash Window Construction

• Blacksmithing

• Lime Harling

• Lime Plastering

• Lime Pointing

• Pole Lathe Turning

• Traditional Roofing  Techniques

HSI, now almost completing its firth year, runs a programme of over 100 heritage training courses and events across the North East and Cumbria. From April 2007 to May 2010 they provided over 48,000 hours of training and events, which range from taster days in blacksmithing to master classes in lime plastering,  to advice for home owners, contractors and professionals.

Brendan Teasdale (Director of Team Force) has instructed at several HSI organised taster days.  One of these collaborations took place at Lindisfarne, Holy Island, Autumn 2010 . Brendan in union with Ray Stockdale of English Heritage held a one day training session to demonstrate the techniques associated with  Soft Capping . This skill involves capping stone walls with vegetation to help protect from water damage. 

Team Force understands the importance of  these events  as they  create opportunities for training and  increase awareness of the heritage sector.

Through provision of training and raising of awareness the HSI involves individuals, organisations and local authorities in responding to the required skills gap in the North East.  HSI understand the importance of the 'hands on approach'. Those who book on the free taster sessions are given the rare opportunity to not only observe the region’s crafts people in action, but actually roll up their sleeves and have a go.

 

Team Force attended and demonstrated their skills at the highly successful North East Heritage Skills Fair at the National Trust's Gibside Estate, July 2008 .  The event spanned three days and housed over 72 national and regional demonstrators and exhibitions.  This event was a great success with around 400 0 visitors, including 15 school parties.

The HSI and Team Force will be held a n introductory session to traditional roofing techniques at Souter Lighthouse on the 16th of July 2011. 

Please contact HSI at [email protected] to book your place.