NFB National Heritage Skills Forum
A coordinated national voice for heritage skills and training
The NFB National Heritage Skills Forum exists to provide leadership and coordination of heritage construction sector skills development, supporting and promoting traditional building crafts, skills and training throughout the UK.
The Forum will work alongside the NFB Heritage and Traditional Build group, heritage stakeholder organisations, contractors and subcontractors, colleges, training providers and awarding organisations to help ensure that skills development remains a national priority, championing traditional crafts and careers as vital to the UK’s economy and heritage.
Remit and approach
The Forum will highlight available skills and training provision to the industry and where gaps are identified through research and supply chain intelligence, work with relevant organisations and awarding bodies on the development of new qualifications and training as well as the review of existing training and qualifications. Where requested, it will provide expert advice from Forum members and the NFB Heritage and Traditional Build group in this process. Led and chaired by the NFB Director of Heritage Skills, the Forum will work with Forum members and the NFB Heritage and Traditional Build Group to ensure that highlighted skills issues are investigated and acted upon.
Key activities
- National skills leadership: Act as the go-to intermediary and national voice of heritage stakeholders, trade and craft representatives and heritage associations for skills related issues
- Sector coordination: Establish and maintain a skills network of heritage contractors, specialists, crafts, and trade organisations and to work with stakeholder organisations to identify and advise on training provision
- Standards, qualifications and competence: Work with CITB Standards and Qualifications and awarding bodies to seek to contribute to changes to qualifications, heritage standards, National Occupational Standards (NOS) and competency reviews, ensuring that contractor views and skills needs are at the forefront of change
- Sector intelligence: Invite Forum members and the NFB Heritage and Traditional Build group to provide input on issues affecting their ability to undertake heritage-specific training and provide intelligence to policy makers on behalf of the sector
- Forum meetings: Hosting twice yearly meetings to discuss key priorities and achievements relating to heritage and traditional build training, skills, qualifications and careers
| Claire Wallbridge is Director of Heritage Skills at the National Federation of Builders and one of the UK’s leading figures in heritage construction, traditional craft skills and workforce development. With more than 20 years’ experience, Claire has built a national reputation for developing education programmes, qualifications, apprenticeship pathways and strategic partnerships that support the preservation of Britain’s historic built environment. Throughout her career she has worked with government, employers, professional bodies, colleges, universities and heritage organisations to strengthen skills across the construction sector. Before joining the National Federation of Builders, Claire led the Natural Stone Industry Training Group (NSITG), providing strategic leadership for education and workforce development across the UK’s natural stone industry. She previously held several senior positions with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), where she led national heritage projects, developed qualifications and worked closely with over one hundred specialist construction organisations. Claire has collaborated with organisations including Historic England, Cadw, Historic Environment Scotland, the National Trust, City &Guilds and NOCN, helping shape qualifications, continuing professional development programmes and national skills initiatives. A passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, she founded Women in Natural Stone (W.I.N.S.) to encourage and support women entering specialist construction careers. A Freeman of the City of London and Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Masons, Claire has chaired the Craft & Training Committee and the HRH Duke of Gloucester Awards for Stone Masonry. She continues to champion the people, partnerships and skills needed to safeguard the UK’s rich heritage for future generations. |
