On 28th October the National Ironwork Group (NHIG) and the Icon Metals Group organised a webinar, ‘Up to standard or down to price’ which discussed the problem facing freelance conservator-restorers when faced with a ‘bad brief’. https://nhig.org.uk/events/event/nhig-with-icon-conversations-build-understanding-tendering/ The advice from experienced (and possibly more financially secure) conservator-restorers was to simply ‘walk away’. But how are the less experienced conservator-restorers, who are anxious to gain work and not alienate potential clients, to respond? Helen Hughes ACR has run her own consultancy for the last 10 years looks at this problem and offers solutions and negotiation tactics to maintain good relations with potential clients, and possibly win the contract without loss of professional integrity and lowering of standards. She recommends various strategies such as defining company Terms & Conditions on websites, sharing examples of previous projects, and the use of existing conservation standards, particularly the recently published BSI/European Standard BS EN 17429:2020 Conservation of Cultural Heritage – Procurement of Conservation Services & Works, to negotiate solutions to this problem. But remember the words of the wise, sometimes it is best just ‘to walk away’.

‘Just walk away’

Speakers

Helen Hughes ACR