In a world captivated by technological innovation, where machine learning, artificial intelligence and automation are at the forefront of conversation, the Cathedrals’ Workshop Fellowship (CWF) are championing a different approach; investing in the traditional skills and crafts that are keeping the UK’s heritage alive.

Cathedrals’ Workshop Fellowship is an association of Anglican cathedrals established to provide education and training for the craftspeople who maintain cathedrals and other historic buildings. Through training and nurturing, the Fellowship is developing a new generation of skilled workers, ensuring heritage buildings continue to stand as beacons in their local communities.

In the latest episode of our podcast, we sat down with Michael Sheppard, Executive Director of Cathedrals’ Workshop Fellowship, to share his thoughts on the state of the heritage crafts sector and why he believes now is the time to invest in it.

A looming heritage crisis

CWF’s efforts come at a time where many heritage skills are at risk. Since 2017, Heritage Crafts have released their Red List of Endangered Crafts, a growing catalogue of traditional crafts that are unlikely to survive to the next generation. This challenge is compounded by the decline in historic preservation firms, which once served as key entry points for heritage craftspeople. These trends, and more, point to a clear and deepening skills shortage in the UK.

“If you remove the training for those traditional methods, within a generation or two, they are going to be lost” warns Michael.

This lack of training in traditional skills will ultimately result in the further decline of many heritage buildings across the UK. Which is concerning given that, according to Historic England’s latest Heritage at Risk Register, 4,891 historic buildings and sites are already at risk due to neglect, decay, or inappropriate change.

Funding for heritage skills

One way to combat this crisis is for more funding to support the training of heritage craftspeople.

Earlier this year Benefact Trust awarded the CWF a £2.1 million grant towards the development of their Benefact Trust Scholars Programme. This programme will support 36 scholars over the next four years to receive hands-on training in stonemasonry, stained glass conservation or timber conservation, working across 14 of the UK’s most iconic cathedrals that make up the CWF.

Of the programme, Michael highlights the wider impact it will have on the sector. “To put it into context, having 36 trainees go through [the programme] is a lot of people. Those individuals trained over that period of time and then retained by those cathedrals is a long-lasting legacy”.

Encouraging careers in heritage crafts

Grants like ours are a step towards building a more robust heritage crafts sector. But a missing piece is the awareness of the sector from a much younger age.

Michael believes that much more could be done in schools and colleges to introduce heritage crafts as viable career paths. This could involve integrating opportunities to explore traditional skills within the curriculum or simply sharing the stories of craftspeople already thriving in the sector.

“It’s about getting the word out there... sharing the success stories and sparking interest” says Michael.

Ideas like these lay the groundwork for a thriving pipeline of future apprentices, ensuring the sector sustains or even grows.

The future of heritage crafts

While the future of many heritage crafts remains uncertain, organisations like Cathedrals’ Workshop Fellowship, Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust, the King’s Foundation and many others, are steadily working to address the skills shortage. And more funders like Benefact Trust are seeking to support these efforts.

For our full conversation with Michael watch/listen to the latest episode of our Beyond Funding podcast: ‘The Future of Heritage Crafts with Cathedrals’ Workshop Fellowship’ available on YouTube and Spotify.