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

HUMAN RESOURCES IN CANADA’S BUILT HERITAGE SECTORKey ThemesFour themes emerge from this overview of occupational standards and skill supply in the United Kingdomand Ireland:First, the “national trusts” played a decisive role in bringing stakeholders in the built heritage sector together todevelop occupational standards. It was clearly the priority attached by the “national trusts” to a moresystematic and focused approach to occupational standards that led to (a) the development of NVQs fortechnical conservation occupations, (b) the merger of the various professional conservator associations andthe development of a common professional standard, i.e., the ACR accreditation, (c) recognition of aspecialized heritage accreditation for architects by RIBA, and (d) the creation of the NHTG by theconstruction industry sector council.Second, ICOMOS standards played an important role in the formulation of occupational standards forboth NVQ regulated occupations and professional occupations.Third, unlike the United States, the approach taken in the UK was a stakeholder approach that focused ondeveloping accreditations that would be issued by the appropriate professional and occupational bodies. In thisrespect the UK approach is quite different from the US approach which focuses on occupational guidelinesthat apply to the employers or engagers of professionals in the conservation and restoration field.Fourth, the UK approach is also broader than the US approach in that it also extends to technicaloccupations and the skilled trades.36©CULTURAL HUMAN RESOURCES COUNCIL