A TRAINING provider is helping to equip the construction craftsmen of tomorrow with vital workplace skills.

Heritage Craft Alliance (HCA) in Bedale, North Yorkshire is working with Peterlee-based One Awards to address national skills gaps through apprenticeships.

Partnering with master craftsmen the two organisations are ensuring that there will be a transfer of skills and knowledge to the next generation of construction professionals.

HCA offers the only apprenticeship programme in the UK which offers an entry point to the heritage skills sector for young people.

In addition, it delivers more than 400 advanced heritage skills qualifications - more than the rest of the UK combined.

The programme was accredited through One Awards (formerly Open College Network North East Region) and offers a National Apprenticeship Framework for young people with diplomas in masonry, including traditional stone, brick and earth building and also in wood occupations, carpentry and joinery.

All training is geared towards the building, restoration and conservation of historic buildings but embraces modern technology.

One Awards is a not-for-profit organisation with charitable status which offers bespoke accreditation services, NOCN qualifications and training to learning providers, as well as Access to Higher Education Diplomas.

Heritage Craft Alliance and One Awards have worked together extensively on bespoke training provision and accreditation of courses since 2009.

The first group of students are about to start their second year and HCA already has six students signed up for the new 2014 course and can accommodate more.

Apprentices benefit from site training at the firm’s base on the firm’s Thorp Perrow Estate at Bedale and HCA is attracting students from across the UK.

Louise Morritt, chief executive of One Awards said: “This is an exciting and innovative apprenticeship which reflects our commitment to working with all sectors of our community and to support learners from all walks of life.

"We accredit hundreds of units and qualifications on a wide range of subjects and this qualification is another example of our diversity of offer and how well we work collaboratively with individuals and organisations.

“Our aim is to match high quality, bespoke training with real opportunities in the world of work, so that people from all backgrounds and education are empowered to learn, progress and achieve. Students and apprentices can then find work, and businesses benefit from the availability of skilled workers in their industry which ultimately helps local communities and society as a whole.

Glenn Young, director of HCA, said: “I initially went to One Awards with my course ideas as I have always found them very approachable, open minded and amenable to new possibilities.

"One Awards is particularly good at making things happen and it was certainly true in this case.

"I wrote the course in 2012, presented it to One Awards who assessed it via panel. We piloted it in 2013 and now already have an excellent group of partly trained students well on the way to success, as well as a sustainable future secured for the maintenance of Britain’s built heritage."