Human Resources in Canada's Built Heritage Sector: Mapping the ...

MAPPING THE WORK FORCE AND SETTING STRATEGIC PRIORITIES6. Regulation of Built Heritagein the United Kingdom and IrelandThis discussion focuses primarily on heritage regulation in the UK. A discussion of professional standardsin Ireland is included as there is longstanding integration of the relevant professions in the two countries.In UK, the statutory regime provides for grading and designating of properties as heritage assets. Thedegree of restriction on an owner depends on the grading of the property. The system of designation andgrading and the applicable controls are currently under review. In the main, heritage assets that taken intopublic ownership are administered by “national trusts.” There are separate trusts for England, Scotland,Northern Ireland and Wales. Additionally there are other heritage bodies focused on particular types ofhistoric buildings, such as churches. In many instances, the “national trusts” receive heritage properties asbequests to avoid the payment of inheritance taxes. Grants are available for heritage restoration undervarious programmes, notably the Heritage Economic Regeneration Scheme and the Townscape HeritageInitiative. Both of these programmes focus on depressed areas. VAT relief and accelerated write-offs(as opposed to normal depreciation allowances) are available for converting redundant space over shopsfor letting. These have built on the concept of various LOTS schemes (living over the shop) adopted inprevious conservation-led urban regeneration projects.The UK is considering adoption of American-style tax incentives for private owners of heritage properties.The current system in the UK, however, restricts property tax abatements to properties which are open tothe public. Abatements of value-added-tax (VAT), currently at 17.5% is available for approved repairsto historic buildings.Regulation of Technical OccupationsFor trades and technical occupations, a system of National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) applies. (InScotland a comparable system of SVQs applies.) Sector Skills Councils, which are overseen by the SectorSkills Development Agency, devise occupational and training standards for occupations within theirpurview. The Sector Skills Councils are employer-led. National Occupational Standards are developed forup to five levels within an occupation. The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) oversees thisprocess and ensures broad commensurability across the various levels of qualification in an occupation,such that Level IV in one occupation involves approximately the same degree of training, experience andresponsibility as Level IV in another occupation. Training may be delivered by private or public collegesor industry bodies. The Sector Skills Councils designate “awarding bodies” to confer NVQs. Awardingbodies may be colleges, industry bodies or professional associations. NVQs are more than diplomas.NVQs are based on specified training or equivalent experience and an assessment of work experience.Demonstrated competence in a workplace is a requirement for NVQ designation. The overall system is theresponsibility of the Department of Skills and Education.In the built heritage sector, the Conference on Training in Architectural Conservation (COTAC) hasdeveloped and received approval for NVQ standards for:• Conservation Site Management (Level 3)• Conservation Control (Level 4), and• Conservation Consultancy (Level 5).©CULTURAL HUMAN RESOURCES COUNCIL31