Annual Report & Accounts 2007-2008 - Historic Scotland

Through Minutes of Agreement TCRE Group continued to support Construction Skills
Scotland, the National Heritage Training Group (NHTG) and Learn Direct and Build to
continue to influence the construction industry and provide supporting educational
materials to develop and enhance the Scottish craft skills base.
The National Progressing Award in the Conservation of Masonry was formally endorsed by
the Scottish Qualifications Authority and launched in November by the Culture Minister. It
created, for the first time, a qualification that serves the needs of conservation, repair and
maintenance in the masonry sector of the construction industry with support from the
Scottish masonry industry and training providers.
The successful completion of the three Internships in 2007-08 led to the establishment
of three new funded Studentships. In conjunction with the universities of Glasgow, West
of Scotland and Edinburgh the successful placements are focussing on Climate Change,
Stone Decay and Removal of synthetic paint from masonry.
In partnership with Heritage Lottery Fund, six
bursary recipients have obtained one-year
placements in Elgin, Dingwall, Aberdeenshire,
and Edinburgh. The programme emphasises
the benefits of working in Conservation
and our target is to increase the year-long
placements from six to 20 by 2011. In addition,
a further 150 shorter term bursary awards will
be made over that period. Additional funding
of £600,000 was secured from Scottish
Enterprise to increase the scale of the project.
During National Construction Week, TCRE
supported a two-day event at Culross Palace,
Fife with 80 primary seven children from local
schools taking part.
TCRE is continuing to work with Glasgow
Caledonian University, Changeworks and the
Carbon Centre on the thermal performance
of windows and walls, and the embodied
energy of traditional materials and structures
to develop research into energy efficiency and
climate change matters.
Specialised research equipment has
greatly improved with the introduction
of a thermographic camera and a high
definition laser scanner. Our partnership
research with the Digital Design Studio was
formalised to look at the benefits of laser
survey and modelling techniques for the built
environment.
The Minister’s response to HEACS report on
Skills and Materials was recognised to have
created a significant demand on TCRE as a
Group. A commitment was given to enhance
Specialised research equipment has greatly
improved with the introduction of a thermographic
camera and a high definition laser scanner
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