"Thank you for joining us this morning for this event to announce our new ‘Skills for the Future’ funding of £17million for 54 projects delivering at least 800 long-term training placements in heritage skills.
"When the recession hit the UK last year, we thought very hard about how the Heritage Lottery Fund could make a difference. Our first decision was to extend our Training Bursary scheme, doubling the investment and enabling a further 300 trainees to be recruited over the past 6 months, but we wanted to go further. Our answer was ‘Skills for the Future’, an ambitious programme focusing on equipping people with practical skills to help them secure future employment.
"Having witnessed the vital role that heritage has played during the recession in providing employment opportunities and boosting local economies, I am convinced that heritage organisations can play an even more significant role in the UK’s economic recovery.
"Originally we allocated £5million to be invested - not only in the skills needed to look after our historic buildings, landscapes and museum and archive collections, but also in giving people the skills to run education programmes, manage volunteers, and use new technology to help the public learn about our heritage and play an active part in its future.
"So having laid down the gauntlet to the heritage sector, we were absolutely astounded by the response. The sheer number and quality of the projects that came forward shows a great need for, and interest in heritage skills.
"When we saw the quantity and quality of applications, our Board decided to more than treble its investment.
"So today we are announcing an investment of £17million for 54 organisations which will deliver at least 800 long-term training placements all across the UK in addition to the 300 training bursaries. I am sure that the range of opportunities on offer will attract people who might not previously have considered working in heritage.
"The British Museum’s ‘Training the Curator’ programme which will be providing links with 5 other regional museums is just one example of these exciting projects – and Andrew will say more about the aspirations for this particular award.
"Other examples include the Waterways Trust’s project, based in Ellesmere Port, which will run a training scheme for traditional boat building skills and the conservation of historic vessels. The project will target both 18 to 25 year-olds and older trainees and is vitally important for our maritime heritage, considering the significant shortage of skills needed to conserve the 1,000 ships that are currently on the National Register of Historic Vessels.
"Another example comes from the Dorset Wildlife Trust’s project, which will provide opportunities for young people to develop the skills and knowledge to pursue a career in nature conservation. Like many of the other projects we are supporting, this will provide real help for young people without formal qualifications. It will provide training in habitat management, as well as specialist skills in fencing and hedge laying and the trainees will receive accredited skills in such areas as chainsaw use and tractor driving, which will increase their employability in the sector.
"There are many other varied and exciting projects, enabling people to acquire conservation skills, historic horticulture skills, heritage building skills and many more. I would encourage you to visit our website to find out more - but I hope that these examples demonstrate why I believe that heritage has such a unique role to play in supporting skills and harnessing people’s commitment and creativity.
"Our experience of running HLF’s existing £10million Training Bursary Programme for the past four years shows that this funding makes a real difference to people’s career prospects. 700 high quality placements have been created through this programme and we know that an incredible 90% of the people who completed a training placement in 2009 went on to get a job in the heritage sector.
"This is particularly important as we know that, even during these tough times, heritage packs a substantial economic punch. HLF’s research at the beginning of the year showed that heritage tourism supports an estimated 195,000 jobs and makes a bigger contribution to GDP than many other, more visible sectors of the economy, such as advertising and car manufacturing.
"And with the potential for another bumper summer for domestic tourism, our museums, historic sites and landscapes will once again be an immense attraction, bringing in new visitors. This is why I am delighted that John Penrose has responsibility for both tourism and heritage. The two are intrinsically linked. And we will not have a successful tourism industry unless we also invest in the skills that will improve the visitor experience at heritage sites.
"Whilst the success of our society cannot be measured in productivity and employment alone, I continue to believe that investing in our heritage can play a hugely important role in rebuilding the UK’s economy.
"Clearly, skills must be central to this investment and I look forward to seeing this funding in action, really helping people to develop the skills we need to ensure our heritage is in good heart for the future, while meeting the needs of young people now."