Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has welcomed the opening of applications for the 2026-27 All Ireland Heritage Skills Programme, a cross-border training initiative designed to address the critical shortage of craftspeople needed to conserve Northern Ireland’s historic buildings. The 12-month course offers successful applicants a full scholarship plus a monthly bursary to cover travel and accommodation costs while they work towards a professional qualification in heritage construction.
Partnership and Programme Structure
The programme is delivered through a partnership between The King’s Foundation, the Heritage Council, National Museums NI, and the Construction Industry Training Board NI (CITB NI). Students will gain practical experience in traditional building skills, conservation, and repair by working alongside master craftspeople at the Department’s Heritage Skills Centre in Moira.
Key details of the 2026-27 intake include:
- Applications close at 4pm on 10 April 2026
- Course duration: 12 months, commencing July 2026
- Qualification: Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Heritage Skills (Construction)
- Funding: Full scholarship covering course fees, plus monthly bursary for travel and accommodation
- Entry level: Not an entry-level programme; applicants must have prior experience in their craft area through college or onsite work
Ministerial Welcome
Launching the call for applications, Minister Lyons emphasised the economic and cultural importance of maintaining traditional craft skills:
“I am pleased to see this programme open for applications as it offers a unique opportunity for people to develop high‑quality heritage skills that are essential for protecting our historic environment, shaping places that we want to live, work and invest in.
“As in previous years, students will have the opportunity to gain practical experience in traditional building skills, conservation and repair, working with master craftspeople, as well as working towards a Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Heritage Skills (Construction) at the Department’s Heritage Skills Centre in Moira.”
The Minister noted that recent graduates have already secured employment within National Museums NI and the Department’s Conservation Works Team, which is currently expanding:
“Recent graduates of the programme are working in National Museums NI and my Department’s Conservation Works Team, the programme aligns with my investment of £1.3m creating 28 new posts in my Department’s Conservation Works Team to protect and conserve the 187 State Care Monuments.
“Heritage skills support local jobs, strengthen our economy and contribute to sustainable conservation. I encourage anyone with a passion for craft and heritage to apply.”
Context: A Sector Under Pressure
The launch comes at a significant moment for Northern Ireland’s heritage sector. The Historic Environment Division currently manages 187 State Care Monuments and more than 2,000 Scheduled Historic Monuments. Meanwhile, the broader heritage sector contributes an estimated £532 million in gross value added to the Northern Ireland economy annually, according to 2021 Department for Communities figures.
However, the sector faces a demographic challenge. Research indicates that many experienced craftspeople are reaching retirement age, creating a skills gap in traditional trades such as stonemasonry, blacksmithing, thatching, and lime work. The All Ireland Heritage Skills Programme specifically targets this gap by upskilling existing construction workers rather than training beginners, aiming to create a new generation of master craftspeople capable of working on historic structures across the island.
Questions of Scale and Access
While the programme offers high-quality training, several questions remain about its capacity to meet demand:
- With previous cohorts numbering only seven to eight students annually, can the programme scale sufficiently to replace retiring craftspeople and meet the maintenance needs of 187 State Care Monuments plus thousands of listed buildings?
- Does the entry requirement for prior construction experience exclude potential career-changers who might bring fresh perspectives, and could entry-level apprenticeships complement this upskilling route?
- How will skills learned reach smaller community heritage projects and private owners of listed buildings, given the Department’s Conservation Works Team focuses primarily on State Care sites?
- As 2026 marks the centenary of the Ancient Monuments Act (Northern Ireland) 1926—the legislation that established State Care—what additional funding or policy changes might secure the next century of heritage protection?
How to Apply
Applications for the 2026-27 programme must be submitted by 4pm on 10 April 2026. Candidates will need to demonstrate prior experience in a relevant craft area and submit a digital portfolio of their work.
Full details and the application form are available via the National Museums NI recruitment portal.