Icon has submitted a response to the BEIS call for evidence on the recognition of professional qualifications and regulation of professions, outlining Icon’s role as the self-regulating body for the conservation profession.
Icon’s evidence explained how the lack of legislation and regulation for the conservation profession means that anyone could call themselves a conservator-restorer in the UK, which bears the risk of resulting in 'botched' restorations, like the cases reported recently by international media.
However, we argued that heritage can be protected through mechanisms that are less expensive and resource-heavy than national-level regulation or legislation. Icon believes that a professional body with appropriate accreditation processes based on individual competence offers the most effective means to regulating the conservation profession. It can be more successful than legislative checks and controls that are generally deployed retrospectively.
Icon fulfils the role of self-regulation of the conservation profession in the UK through formal accreditation and a mandatory Code of Conduct for members. We provide quality assurance to the public that heritage is cared for by fully qualified and capable professionals.
Read the full submission or see a summary factsheet.
Icon also contributed to a collective response submitted by PARN.
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