CIOB Building Conservation Certification Scheme

On 22 June 2017, the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) launched the CIOB Building Conservation Certification Scheme, following growing demand for ‘certified’ conservation specialists.

With 25% of the UK’s building stock dating back to pre-1919, most construction professionals will work on historic buildings at some point during their career. This makes it vital that the right skills and competencies are recognised.

The scheme has been developed in consultation with English Heritage, the National Trust, Historic Scotland and CADW (the Welsh Government's historic environment service), and has been established for conservation specialists to gain recognition for their expertise and as a pathway for the next generation of specialists.

Applicants will have to demonstrate their competence against the International Conference on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Training and Education Guidelines as well as having an understanding of sustainability and energy efficiency.

The scheme is open to those who hold at least an HNC/HND in conservation and typically have three years’ relevant experience working as:

• Works supervisors or site managers.
• Building or quantity surveyors.
• Design coordinators or managers.
• Project or construction managers.
• Facilities or estates managers.

The scheme offers three levels of competence: Registered, Proficient and Certified, each with different entry requirements and offering a level-specific certificate.

Rebecca Thompson, CIOB President, said:

“We need to hold onto our past and treasure it. Globally, people look to the UK for leadership on the art and science of conservation. We have a huge stock of old buildings that need to be maintained, adapted, restored and conserved and we must ensure that the industry has the right skills and that expertise is clearly benchmarked. The demand from clients and organisations in this space is for ‘certified’ experts and that is what our scheme provides.”

To find out more and register an interest, see the CIOB website.

--CIOB

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Articles by CIOB on Designing Buildings Wiki.
• CIOB building conservation courses receive English Heritage endorsement.
• CIOB conservation scheme welcomes retrofit roles.
• Conservation of the historic environment.
• Historic England.
• Listed buildings.
• Principles of conservation.
• Restoration.
• The history of conservation areas.