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Young People Offered Exciting Opportunity for a Career in Heritage Skills

Young people interested in a career in heritage skills are being offered an exciting opportunity by Cheshire West and Chester Council.

West Cheshire College Tutor Altomont Townsend
demonstrates stone carving at the recent Heritage
Skills & Crafts Fair.

In partnership with Chester Renaissance and West Cheshire College, the authority is seeking to recruit two heritage skills trainees - one in stone masonry and one in traditional wood carpentry. The trainees will be placed with specialist companies in the Chester area to learn new skills while gaining valuable experience on site.

Both traineeships are fixed term for one year, and include a one-day release per week to West Cheshire College for further training. Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Council is able to create these exciting traineeships under the Skills for the Future programme.

Paul Valentine, Young Adult Skills Coordinator, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for young people to specialise in a craft they can become really good at.

"There are not many opportunities out there for young people to gain specialist experience in construction, while being paid.

"We are looking for people who are really keen to learn either stone masonry or traditional wood carpentry from specialists. They should be very interested in old buildings and how to care for them properly."

Some interest in the traineeships was registered at the Heritage Skills & Crafts Fair held at West Cheshire College with Chester Renaissance during the Heritage Open Days 2011 in September.

The fair, which was hosted at the Chester Campus and officially opened by College Principal Sara Mogel, offered young people the opportunity to meet heritage skills specialists, watch demonstrations and get some hands-on experience.

One of the specialists present was Chester-based stone mason Neil Andrews, who is currently training John Roberts, the first stone mason trainee of the project.

Jochem Hollestelle, Project Manager at Chester Renaissance, said: "I am very grateful to people like Neil Andrews who have taken on a heritage skills trainee for a specific period of time.

"I understand that our stone mason trainee, John, is developing his skills very well with the support of Neil, and he is working successfully on a wide variety of stone masonry jobs.

"Before he was with Neil Andrews, John worked on the Cunard building in Liverpool, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and arrangements have been made for him to work later with another specialist company on Chester City Walls.

"The project is giving John a wealth of opportunities and I am really pleased he is taking it with both hands.

"At the same time, with the support of the Heritage Learning Fund, the College is investing in further developing a stone masonry course."

Interested applicants should forward a CV and request an application from Paul Valentine, Young Adult Skills Coordinator, via email: paul.valentine@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk or telephone 01606 288909.

The closing date for applications is 15th November 2011.

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