Historic buildings inspector/conservation officer
A conservation officer will advise on and promote the conservation of the historic environment and in particular, its long-term care, preservation and enhancement. Much of their work will be with listed buildings or buildings within conservation areas, so the conservation officer role has many similarities with that of a historic buildings inspector, with the two roles often working together.
Their roles include helping to protect and enhance all forms of buildings including churches, windmills, lighthouses and residential properties. They report and advise on buildings and areas of special historic or architectural interest.
They guide new developments in order to maintain the distinctive character of an area - up to a third of planning applications submitted involve conservation issues. They may also be involved in regeneration projects that have community, economic and environmental benefits.
Typical work activities include:
Although this is a career open to all graduates, it would be useful to posses a degree/HND in one of the following subjects:
It is important that the degree is accredited and meets the academic requirements of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) as membership of the IHBC is usually a requirement for jobs in this field. The IHBC offers affiliate membership opportunities for full-time students.
Graduates with non-accredited or non-related degrees are required to undertake a conversion course to upgrade their academic qualifications. For those applying for full membership of the IHBC, completion of a suitable conservation course can count for up to three years of professional experience.
Entry without a degree or HND is unlikely, except through the planning technician route from where it is possible to move across into historic buildings inspector or conservation officer roles through experience and extra training.
Although not essential, a postgraduate qualification is becoming increasingly common.
Candidates will need to show evidence of the following:
A driving licence is usually required.
Most employers will look for candidates with experience so relevant work experience, gained through vacation or sandwich placements, is advantageous, and will be invaluable if the degree is not directly relevant.
Experience gained through voluntary work can also be very helpful, even though the vast majority of voluntary work experience opportunities are unpaid. A number of organisations welcome volunteers such as the National Trust and a number of national amenity societies such as the Victorian Society and the Ancient Monuments Society .
It is also advisable to attend training events run by specialist bodies working in this field such as the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) and The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) , who run a number of short training courses and technical professional development events, with many open to non-members which could provide network-building opportunities for potential entrants.
Although places are strictly limited, there are a number of organisations that offer scholarships or fellowships, such as The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) and The William Morris Craft Fellowship Trust . English Heritage also offer a small number of work placements each year on their Historic Environment Traineeship scheme.
Not all new positions are advertised, and it is still common for jobs to be filled through speculative applications and word of mouth, especially with small organisations or in the voluntary sector.
For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.
Training for building conservation officers usually occurs in the workplace, but it is essential to keep abreast of legislation, compliance and reporting requirements through training and continuous professional development (CPD). Attending internal and external training courses, relevant seminars and conferences is an effective way of keeping up to date with current issues and refreshing knowledge.
There are a number of specialised courses and further qualifications for those that want to develop their knowledge, and provide opportunities for professionals to further their career in new areas.
The Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) has compiled a list of recognised postgraduate, undergraduate and certificate courses, which are available on a full-time or part-time basis. The IHBC is also closely involved in developing NVQ courses for conservation professionals in employment. These are appropriate for professionals at different stages of their career and include courses in:
Graduates with degrees approved by The Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) and who have been in relevant employment for a minimum period of two years, can become full members of the institute. This involves completing a testimonial that must be written up in accordance with the IHBC’s professional standard incorporating the Areas of Competence.
The IHBC then requires its members to undertake a minimum of 50 hours’ professional development over a rolling two-year period. Members plan their own training needs on the basis of a personal development assessment related to the Institute’s areas of competence.
The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) (SPAB) runs a number of short training courses and technical professional development events, including two annual six-day courses of lectures for professionals in the industry.
The Heritage Skills Initiative (HSI), which is based in the North of England and supported by ConstructionSkills and English Heritage , has a vast range of events, conferences and training courses throughout the year.
Typically, a career path will begin in a trainee position at conservation officer level in a local authority, although entry may be possible at technician level in departments such as planning.
Within the public sector there are many opportunities for career development with local authorities having well established promotion routes to more senior posts, which may include becoming a senior inspector/conservation officer, or management of a team of cross-functional conservation professionals, including surveyors, heritage managers and building control officers.
Due to the specialist nature of this industry, low turnover of staff may necessitate relocation to achieve career progression and it is common for professionals in this industry to move between local authorities in order to gain broader experience and seek more senior positions.
Qualified and experienced professionals may move to national government organisations such as English Heritage and Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments . Alternatively, they may move to other conservation organisations such as the National Trust .
In the private sector, there area also opportunities to advance through the company structure, or move to a larger organisation in order to gain promotion. There are also opportunities for career progression within amenity societies, such as the Victorian Society and The Georgian Group , although opportunities tend to be limited due to their small size.
There are opportunities to move into lecturing work in universities and consultancy work is increasingly available for conservation professionals with substantial experience and industry contacts. This is likely to focus on advisory and design work.
Becoming a full member of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC) and undertaking agreed levels of continuing professional development (CPD) is a key part of career development, and will enable progression to more senior posts.
Building conservation is a relatively small field, but there are opportunities across both the public and private sectors, with jobs all over the country, although competition for jobs can be fierce.
Most local authorities employ at least one historic buildings inspector or conservation officer, usually in the planning department. English Heritage is the Government’s statutory advisor on the historic environment, and there are other public agencies such as:
There are opportunities in the construction industry, working for a specialist historic building contractor, or for private practices specialising in conservation.
Employment can also be found with various charities, the most well known being the National Trust , but there are also amenity societies such as the Victorian Society and The Georgian Group , which are national charities dedicated to specific buildings. These types of organisations tend to be very small and are run mainly by volunteers, but they may employ a limited number of building conservation specialists.
There will also be opportunities in consultancy, and in higher and further education, with teaching and research opportunities becoming more commonly available.
In most instances, organisations recruit graduates directly rather than through recruitment agencies, however they are still a useful source of vacancies. See the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) website for details.
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