Professional development in building conservation

We have lots of different professional learning opportunities at the Engine Shed, a Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) approved centre.

Our events and courses are taught by specialists from Historic Environment Scotland and leading conservation practitioners from around the UK. 

We also run training courses at Historic Environment Scotland's skills training centres in Elgin and Stirling.

#InformFriday livestreams

Our free, monthly livestreams provide a good introduction to traditional buildings and a range of different technical conservation topics.

Watch films from #InformFriday series on YouTube:

Professional Conservation Training Courses

Our range of short and accredited courses are designed for all levels, from conservation beginners to active professionals. Remember to check our What’s On section throughout the year for new courses.

Building conservation blogs and newsletters 

A great way to stay up to date with the latest news is to read sector blogs and newsletters. We recommend:

• The Engine Shed blog 
• Historic Environment Scotland blog 
• Architecture and Design Scotland blog 
• International Council on Monuments and Sites UK (ICOMOS) blog 
• The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) blog 
• IHBC blog
• Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) newsletter
• The Engine Shed newsletter
• The Institute of Conservators (ICON) newsletter

Further events and training across Scotland

There are lots of learning opportunities across Scotland for you to get involved in:

• our friends at Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS) have a useful calendar of events happening across Scotland
• the Scottish Lime Centre Trust offer excellent training workshops and advice around the traditional building technology
• The Prince's Foundation has a number of education opportunities including their Building Craft Programme which provides training and placements to develop craft skills
• The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) offer online and in-person courses, local groups to get involved with and have a long running programme of Fellowships and Scholarships
• the Scottish Traditional Building Forum is a great source of news, advice, and events
• the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QUEST) offer funding for craftspeople to develop their skills
• Institute of Conservators (ICON) of training, resources, and accreditation
• look out for opportunities with the William Morris Craft Fellowship Trust

Professional Associations

Also remember to check your local heritage trust and organisations to see what training and Continued Professional Development (CPD) events they deliver. Explore various professional associations relevant to people who work in the historic environment.

• increase your visibility as an expert in your field
• build a network of peers to support
• keep your knowledge and skills up to date
• develop your ability to influence and lead

Creating a professional development plan can help you with this. This could be discussed as part of your formal reviews at work, or be a personal plan you create for yourself. It should contain the skills, strategy and education you need to achieve your goals.

Recording professional achievements

As you build your experience and skills, remember to record your development. This is important to be able to demonstrate your skills to existing and potential employers, in addition to giving you a chance to reflect and celebrate your achievements.

There are a number of ways to do this:

• CV
• training records
• portfolio
• blogs