Insight
Key Takeaways from the Heritage Day Conference
13 Mar 2024
James Nelson
Graduate Heritage Building Surveyor
James Nelson, Graduate Heritage Building Surveyor, and Matthew Appleton, Director - Building Surveying, recently attended the Heritage Day event at St John's, Waterloo, organised by the Heritage Alliance. This annual conference provided a detailed overview of the heritage sector, highlighting the importance of collaboration and the sector's contribution to the UK economy.
Lord Parkinson, the Minister for Arts and Heritage, opened the event with an address that set a positive and forward-looking tone, aligning well with the conference's main theme of collaboration. This theme was consistently echoed throughout the day, culminating in a thoughtful closing keynote by Lord Neil Mendoza CBE, Chair of Historic England.
The event's discussions, panels, and exhibitions provided valuable insights from industry leaders. It was evident that there is a very real optimism that was shared by all speakers present about the direction of heritage and what it can provide to the UK as an integral part to the economy. It was clear from the conference that the heritage sector as a whole has gone through and come out the end of a period of recovery during and immediately after the COVID-19 pandemic, illustrated by the Cultural Recovery Fund that was so vital to the maintenance and running of so many key heritage sites and those workers and volunteers involved. Now Heritage has reemerged from that as a growth sector, this time highlighted by the Cultural Development Fund with it now in its fourth round, which has been injecting key funds into the sector to enable a new period of heritage-led economic growth. Amongst this has been a push to close the skills-gap currently existing within Heritage, with a greater emphasis from the government and leading heritage organisations on promoting specialist-skills apprenticeships.
Addressing current challenges, such as the cost of living crisis and climate change. As such, a concerted effort has been made by those in the industry to push for increased funding into the sector, as well as for a promotion of dynamic thinking in terms of effective and sustainable retrofitting.
The Heritage Day Conference offered a balanced perspective on the sector's current state and its potential, resonating with the government, leading organisations, and Pick Everard's views. It showcased the heritage sector not only as a guardian of the past but also as a vital player in shaping a sustainable and prosperous future.