1 Train a Craft Fellow
Host a Craft Fellow to keep specialised building conservation skills alive and encourage talented people to work and support traditional buildings in Scotland.
What is a Craft Fellow?
Craft Fellows learn hands-on skills while on the job, from traditional joinery and stone carving, to milling and blacksmithing.
We employ Craft Fellows for 12-18 months. They are hosted and trained by partner organisations and master craftspeople throughout Scotland.
We place Craft Fellows with partners of all sizes, from national heritage organisations to individual craftspeople.
Most of the time, our partners take on one Craft Fellow at a time.
About Craft Fellow hosts
We’re looking for partners who are passionate about building conservation. To host a craft fellow for 12 – 18 months, you need to be working:
- with traditional building trades or crafts
- with traditional skills or materials
You don’t need any experience in training a craftsperson, but enthusiasm to pass on your skills is a must.
You’ll also need:
- employers' liability insurance
- up-to-date risk assessments
- evidence there is enough work to provide high-quality training for a Craft Fellow
- time to support and train a Craft Fellow
Whether you have a large, dedicated project for a Craft Fellow to work on, or a wide range of different projects, you’ll be dedicated to giving them the best learning experience.
Our team will be there to guide you as a Craft Fellow host, giving advice and support on everything from risk assessments to training, if you need it.
Why host a Craft Fellow?
Hosting a Craft Fellow has many benefits including:
- introducing fresh, creative talent to your trade
- sharing skills and developing a legacy for your craft
- innovation; Craft Fellows bring new ideas and ways of thinking to your workplace
- creating new capacity within your business area
We recruit Craft Fellows who have basic skills related to a craft (for example, can use hand tools), with a strong interest in heritage conservation.
Find out more
To learn more about hosting a Craft Fellow, please contact us at technicaleducation@hes.scot. We’re always open to new ideas for craft fellowships.
2 Train a Modern Apprentice
We've supported apprentices who go on to do incredible things and win awards. All the while helping us create a better future. You could have one of them working for you.
We're looking for host businesses to train a traditional skills trade apprentice. They'll work with you full-time for up to 4 years.
You could be someone who has never taken on an apprentice before. Our programme will support you.
Why train a Modern Apprentice?
Employ a Modern Apprentice and:
- upskill your workforce
- get an extra staff member, who we'll pay for
- keep vital heritage skills alive
- help someone into a career
How we'll work together
Your business or organisation will need to work with traditional building skills or within building conservation. And you'll need to be enthusiastic about taking on an apprentice!
We will:
- employ the apprentices on a 4-year contract and pay their full salary
- cover the cost of tools, personal protective equipment (PPE) and training
- support the apprentice and host organisation
You will:
- train the apprentice in a traditional building skill or skills
- enable the apprentice to complete their apprenticeship and qualification
- provide a safe working environment
- mentor and develop the apprentice
Note your interest or learn more by contacting technicaleducation@hes.scot. Include 'Apprentice' in the email subject.