ALL-IRELAND HERITAGE SKILLS PROGRAMME 2025 – 26

Thank you for expressing an interest in the All-Ireland Heritage Skills Programme. Please read and complete this application form and return it to us with the accompanying documents by Friday 11 April 2025, 5pm.

Prior to submitting your application, please ensure that you have downloaded and read the course overview.

The programme partners (The King’s Foundation, The Heritage Council (ROI) and The Historic Environment Division (NI)), believe that it is crucial to preserve the wisdom and knowledge that embodies many of the traditional building skills which have shaped our historical built environment. As many workers in the sector now reach retirement age it is vital that these skills are passed on to the next generation of master craftspeople. Ensuring that we can continue to restore and conserve our history, but importantly demonstrating the significant role that traditional craft skills can play in creating new spaces and places.

The All-Ireland Heritage Skills Programme is a full time, 12-month course which gives practical experience in traditional building skills and the opportunity to work towards a Level 3 NVQ in Heritage Skills. Geared towards those with experience in craft areas such as: stonemasonry, carpentry and joinery, bricklaying, blacksmithing, plastering, thatching, roofing, and tiling, painting, and decorating, the All-Ireland Heritage Skills Programme aims to support the next generation of craftspeople push their skills to the next level.

Applicants should have an interest in developing their craft with a focus towards heritage and traditional methods whilst striking a balance with 21st Century ways of working. The All-Ireland Heritage Skills Programme aims to highlight the holistic nature of our built environment and as such promotes multidisciplinary learning, providing exposure to elements of architecture, design, and a range of craft skills.

The All-Ireland Heritage Skills Programme is not an entry level programme and to be successful in gaining a place on the course, candidates must have prior experience in their craft area of choice, either via college or onsite working experience.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate at least one of the following:

– QQI/NFQ Level 4 or 5 or equivalent in a building craft/construction subject

– NVQ/SVQ Level 2 or 3 or equivalent in a building craft/construction subject

– Qualification in a building craft/construction subject from a recognised authority.

– Significant and demonstrable working experience in their chosen craft/trade area.

For more information, please contact Kasia.Howard@kings-foundation.org

TRAINING & QUALIFICATIONS

Please provide details of any training courses that you are currently attending (where applicable)

REASON FOR APPLICATION

REFERENCE

Please provide a full and complete reference, including the contact details of your referee who must be either a tutor, employer, or someone you have worked with in a professional capacity. The referee must be able to vouch for your skills and experience, and provide details on the questions below:

IMPORTANT: Please include your reference below. The programme partners will not seek out references on your behalf.

PORTFOLIO

To support your application, you are required to submit a digital portfolio containing relevant images of work and projects you have been involved in. You may also include other images/examples of work that you feel demonstrates your broader interest in the built environment, e.g. drawings, experience of other craft disciplines etc.

Please ensure that your portfolio adheres to the following guidelines:

– Maximum 10 pages/slides.

– Portfolio contained in ONE PDF file. (Please do not send multiple file images, web links etc)

– Your PDF file is NO GREATER than 20mb.

– Images are annotated to show nature of the work, your role, year completed.

DECLARATION

BY SIGNING BELOW, YOU ARE AGREEING TO THE FOLLOWING:

I hereby certify that all information provided in this application and any attachments is true and complete. I understand that any false information or omission may disqualify me from further consideration, or, if I am successful in gaining a place, may result in my dismissal from the programme if discovered at a later date.

To complete your application, you will need to complete these sections and send the following document:

• APPLICTION FORM (All sections completed and signed)
• FULL REFERENCE
• PORTFOLIO OF RELEVANT WORK

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

The programme partners believe in equal opportunity for all, which is why we want to monitor our student recruitment procedures. The information you give us is kept confidentially, in line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018. It is best practice for us to ask these questions, but you can choose not to share your details if you so wish.

The information provided will not form part of the selection process.