Led by the Institute of Conservation (Icon) and supported by a £45,000 grant from the Pilgrim Trust, this initiative aims to identify specialist conservation skills that are at risk of being lost across the UK heritage sector.
Over the next 18 months, the project will work with professionals across the conservation community to map current expertise, understand training pathways, and identify areas where skills shortages may threaten the long-term care of collections and historic objects. The research will contribute to an evidence-based action plan to help strengthen training, support knowledge transfer, and ensure that these vital skills continue to be sustained for future generations.
The Skills at Risk research will be carried out using a collaborative approach that brings together expert groups from Icon membership, surveys, and other forms of consultation. This will allow Icon to gather a wide range of perspectives and ensure that the findings are well-informed and reliable. The input from Icon members will be essential to shaping the research and contributing to meaningful outcomes.
How to Get Involved
Further updates and opportunities to contribute to the research will be shared as the project progresses. There will be 10 packages distributed across conservation specialisms, starting with textiles. If you have any questions or would like to be involved, please reach out to [email protected].
Further information, including the project research methodology and future reports, will be available on the project webpage.