Historic Environment Scotland (HES) hosted its annual ceremony to celebrate the exceptional talent and achievements of apprentices, trainees, and craft fellows across the organisation. The charity and heritage body hosted the Celebrating Success event at the Engine Shed, HES’s dedicated building conservation centre, earlier this week. For the first time the event included the presentation of awards to individuals across the organisation, recognising their contributions to the conservation and advancement of Scotland’s historic environment.
HES is committed to nurturing both traditional and emerging skills and continues to build and develop the training opportunities on offer to those joining the sector. From 2023 to 2024, the organisation has doubled the number of apprenticeship positions showcasing its dedication to helping build a sustainable future for heritage skills in Scotland as well as highlighting Scotland’s wider traditional skills shortage.
Lindsey Ross, People Director at HES, commented,
"At HES, skills development and training are fundamental to everything we do. We also recognise how important skills in the heritage sector are to creating a fairer, greener Scotland. Our focus on nurturing talent at various levels through our apprenticeships, trainee and craft fellow programmes ensures that we are continually renewing and enhancing the expertise that is vital to protecting Scotland's heritage, as well as transforming the lives of those who take part. By fostering both traditional and modern skills, we help build a workforce that is prepared to meet the evolving challenges of the heritage sector and create meaningful career paths for individuals in our sector and beyond."
At the heart of the ceremony was the presentation of the awards, introduced as part of the programme for the first time this year. Awards were presented to the Apprentice of the Year, Trade Apprentice of the Year, Non Trade Apprentice of the Year, Craft Fellow of the Year, Trainee of the Year, and Skills Experience Ambassador. Each of these categories celebrated the accomplishments of one individual among many talented nominees who have excelled in their role and marks their contribution and hard work in caring for Scotland's heritage.
Yueqian Wang, Trainee of the Year recipient, said,
“I was really excited to hear my name. It was then that I realised I had come this far with my journey as a trainee!
Knowing my growth was seen and celebrated has been such a great encouragement to me. During my traineeship, I have gained the confidence to take on challenges and develop my skills thanks to the friendly, supportive, and knowledgeable people I work with. I wouldn't have gone this far without them!
The ceremony highlighted the crucial role of young people in sustaining and growing Scotland’s heritage industry. By offering hands-on training and educational opportunities, HES continues to equip the next generation with the skills required to care for Scotland’s historic sites and develop a vibrant and innovative heritage sector.
Colin Tennant, Head of Technical Conservation, said,
This ceremony is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our apprentices, trainees, and craft fellows. Their enthusiasm and commitment help safeguard traditional skills and bring fresh energy and innovative approaches to our industry.
“Scotland’s heritage is a valuable asset, contributing to our economy, to local communities and supply chains, and is a vital resource to tell us about our past and how to shape a bright future. We are proud to invest in and support these talented individuals, ensuring that the skills to preserve Scotland’s historic environment are passed on to a new generation."
Historic Environment Scotland Celebrating Success 2024 Winners
- Apprentice of the Year: Alex Watts, Apprentice Gardener
- Non Trade Apprentice of the Year: Emma Anderson, Collections Management Apprentice
- Trade Apprentice of the Year: Karen Gangel, Apprentice Stonemason
- Craft Fellow of the Year: Murray Holmes, Blacksmithing Craft Fellow
- Trainee of the Year: Yueqian Wang, Digital Innovation Trainee
- Skills Experience Ambassador: Paul Walsh, Apprentice Stonemason
Find out more information on apprenticeships and training opportunities.
About Historic Environment Scotland (HES)
- We are the lead body for Scotland’s historic environment, a charity dedicated to the advancement of heritage, culture, education and environmental protection. It is at the forefront of researching and understanding the historic environment and addressing the impacts of climate change on its future, investigating and recording architectural and archaeological sites and landscapes across Scotland and caring for more than 300 properties of national importance. We are also the lead on delivering Scotland's strategy for the historic environment, Our Past, Our Future.
- Historic Scotland, Scran, Canmore, The National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP), The Engine Shed, Stirling Castle, and Edinburgh Castle are sub-brands of HES.
- View our press pack and keep up to date by registering to receive our media releases. Already registered? You can unsubscribe at any time by following the unsubscribe link, included in every email.
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For further information, please contact:
Julia Woolman
Historic Environment Scotland Media Office
07721 959 962
communications@hes.scot