The English Heritage Historic Environment Traineeship (HET) Scheme was established in 2008 to provide work-experience training in professional conservation skills in a planning and development context. Since it was launched, fourteen Historic Environment Managers have now completed the Scheme.
During their time with English Heritage, the trainees received high-quality in-house and external training in historic environment management, which has enabled them to enhance both the depth of their specialist knowledge and the breadth of their inter-disciplinary skills.
Plans to recruit a further intake of trainees have been put on hold due to cuts imposed by English Heritage's Comprehensive Spending Review settlement in October 2010. As a consequence, recruitment to the HET scheme has been suspended until further notice.
At the end of their training the Historic Environment Managers proved ready to meet the professional challenges presented within local authorities, agencies and other organisations managing the historic environment, providing increased capacity for the sector.
The positions secured by the Historic Environment Managers across the historic environment sector are as follows:
- Samantha Barnes is working as Project Officer for the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, developing projects in the Management and Action Plan and working closely with public private and voluntary sector partners.
- Victoria Brocksopp has taken up the position of Fundraising and Development Officer for Doncaster Minster, working to support the sustainable development of the Minster and other churches within the Greater Churches network as part of the English Heritage Inspired! Campaign.
- Joanna Burton is a Heritage Consultant with Beacon Planning, an RTPI commended planning consultancy based in Cambridge with a heritage and urban design specialism.
- Lucie Carayon has joined the Ancient Monuments Society as their Casework Secretary; her position sees her advising on listed building cases, championing sensitive new design in historic settings and preventing unnecessary destruction.
- Claire Carey is European Marine Site Implementation Officer at Northumberland County Council where she is involved in conservation of both the historic and natural environment.
- Katie Derrett has joined the National Trust South West office as Covenants Officer, protecting the integrity of restrictive covenants on all National Trust properties from Gloucestershire to Cornwall.
- Ruth Garratt is Church Buildings Project Officer at The Churches Trust for Cumbria, supporting the long term sustainable future of buildings used as places of worship.
- Stuart Mee is working as Conservation Officer at Rhondda Cynan Taff County Borough Council, advising applicants on the suitability of development proposals affecting the historic environment, and contributing towards strategic programmes including Conservation Area Appraisals, local listing and buildings at risk.
- Tiva Montalbano has taken up the position of Policy Officer within the English Heritage South East office, as maternity cover for the next nine months.
- Emma Nelson is in post as Conservation Officer with the War Memorials Trust where she is providing conservation advice and administering their grant schemes.
- Mark Nokkert has joined the National Trust at the Wimpole Estate in the East of England, as their Tree Planting Plan Consultant.
- Lauren Shephard is Conservation Officer for Central Bedfordshire Council, helping to advise on any applications for building consent that may affect historically important buildings or sites.
- Clara Turlington is working as Building Conservation Officer at Ryedale District Council, providing guidance to the general public and other interested parties in relation to Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas.
- Alice Ullathorne has gone on to be Church Buildings Support Officer for Ripon and Leeds Diocese, one of the Inspired! Support Officer roles which aims to assist congregations in assessing the viability of their churches, finding ways to make them more sustainable and planning alterations and developments.
Sam Barnes commented: "I entered the HET scheme with a historic buildings background and the short-sighted aim of staying in that field following its completion. The variety and quality of the training opened my eyes to the wider historic environment - not least that bits of stone in a line on Exmoor and lumps and bumps in the ground in Gloucestershire can in fact be fascinating! Having the opportunity to work with and learn from the broad range of experts at English Heritage has been invaluable, but what I learned from the Archaeological Advice Unit and the major project (including project management) gave me the confidence to apply for my current job, and get it!"
Vicky Brocksopp said: "The training I received and practical experience I gained during my 2 years with English Heritage allowed me to develop the necessary skills for managing change in the historic environment, in a way that respects both the significance of the heritage asset and also recognises the importance and necessity of achieving sustainability in the modern world. These skills have been invaluable as I design and implement a fundraising and development strategy for Doncaster Minster. During the two year traineeship I was also able to build some fantastic networks with people in the sector, with English Heritage colleagues, through work experience with local authorities and with the people we met through training events, all invaluable in my new role."
Jo Burton commented: "My first year at Beacon Planning has been exciting, challenging and enjoyable as I have begun to put into put into practice and build upon the skills and knowledge that I learnt at English Heritage on a daily basis. I am pleased to have the opportunity to experience work in the private sector which is proving to be invaluable to understanding how the two sectors can work together effectively and positively to achieve the best results for the historic environment."
Lucie Carayon said: "The Scheme is a unique opportunity which has allowed me to develop a broad experience in heritage management as well as specialist skills in conservation. Working with some of the nation's most respected heritage experts has been a real privilege and I am grateful to all those who participated in the Scheme for their efforts. I very much intend to keep in touch with colleagues and to build on the positive relationship which already exists between the Ancient Monuments Society and English Heritage."
Alice Ullathorne commented: "Without the HET scheme I wouldn't be in my current job as Building Support Officer at Ripon and Leeds Diocese. I came to the HET scheme from a specialist archaeological discipline and the traineeship equipped me with the skills to be able to understand the issues that face congregations and to help them to assess the viability of their churches and to find ways to make them sustainable. The Scheme taught me how to incorporate change into heritage assets without compromising their significance. Of particular value was my secondment with the North of England Civic Trust, which helped me understand the challenges that voluntary and community organisations face and how to work within the current difficult financial climate. The experiences and contacts have continued to be really important in my role as a support officer, and the ties with the other trainees have been so important in terms of support and knowledge. My current role is by nature incredibly varied and the breadth of the traineeship has equipped me to cope with the challenges of my job."
Stuart Mee said: "I found that my experience with English Heritage was a significant factor in gaining ongoing employment. My current role as a conservation officer within a local authority planning department involves day to day listed building, conservation area and historic park and garden casework alongside long term strategic projects such as buildings at risk, conservation area appraisals, regeneration and grants projects and producing guidance. This broad range of work is an ideal follow on from the equally broad scope of the training I received at English Heritage. The training has proved invaluable; not only in specific, conservation-related subject matters but also in more general subjects such as negotiation and report writing. One of the most beneficial aspects of the HET Scheme has been the contacts I made and networks developed while at EH. First and foremost, my HET peers and I maintain regular contact and frequently share questions and advice relating to our current roles. In addition, previous colleagues and tutors at EH have been happy to remain in contact and answer questions whenever a second opinion has been sought."
Mark Nokkert commented: "I am privileged to have had two years of in-depth and high-quality training in all aspects of the management of the historic environment, while working closely with a number of highly respected heritage professionals. After many years in archaeological project management and research, I was ready to move into wider heritage management. The HET scheme gave me exactly what I needed to make this happen: a much broadened specialist knowledge-base, an expansive range of conservation management skills, and an enhanced strategic and inter-disciplinary working style."
