Ofqual is the intended regulator of the non-integrated version of the degree-apprenticeship. OfS will be the regulator once the degree-apprenticeship becomes integrated.

Overview of the role

Responsible for providing specialist and authoritative advice, guidance and assessment to those working on heritage assets and the legal and policy frameworks for their protection.

Details of standard

Occupation summary

This occupation is found in the Cultural Heritage, Historic Environment, Engineering, Construction, Design, Planning, Local Government, Education and Tourism sectors.. The broad purpose of the occupation is to be responsible for providing specialist and authoritative advice, guidance and assessment to those working on heritage assets and the legal and policy frameworks for their protection. Examples of heritage assets include historic buildings, places, landscapes, townscapes, monuments, the historic marine environment, archaeological sites and deposits of heritage interest, registered parks, gardens and battlefields. Legislation or policy frameworks may be international, national or local, and include (but are not limited to) the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, National Planning Policy Framework, Protection of Wrecks Act 1973, Town and Country Planning Regulations 2017, Ecclesiastical Exemption Order 2010. In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a range of clients, colleagues and stakeholders in the public, private and third sectors, within organisations of any size. The Historic Environment Advisor is typically office based but normal duties include activities which require outdoor working, visiting historic sites and attendance at meetings with stakeholders, clients or colleagues.. An employee in this occupation will be responsible for delivering professional advice and recommendations on change, protection, maintenance, interpretation, conservation or restoration within the Historic Environment; through critically analysing, interpreting and evaluating complex information. They assess the significance and/or condition of the historic environment, and its sensitivity to change. They design, provide strategic leadership and monitor the implementation of programmes of work and investigation and where necessary present arguments clearly and effectively on the significance of the historic environment in a broad context. They undertake research within their specialist area to develop understanding of the historic environment, setting standards and best practice and provide strategic leadership within the sector. They provide supervision and leadership to more junior roles within historic environment advice teams where relevant.

Typical job titles include:

Archaeological advisor Architectural investigator Churches conservation advisor Conservation advisor Conservation officer Heritage advisor Heritage at risk projects officer Heritage consultant Historic environment consultant Inspector of ancient monuments Inspector of historic buildings and areas Listed buildings officer

Occupation duties

Duty KSBs

Duty 1 Define, assess or provide advice on significance with regard to planning and other regulatory systems relevant to the historic environment, e.g. preparation of statements of significance and other heritage statements, supported by investigation where appropriate. This includes special architectural, historical and archaeological interest.

K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K12 K13 K18

S1 S2 S3 S4 S6 S8 S9 S14

B1 B2 B5 B6

Duty 2 Make, or provide advice on, designations, including national and local statutory designations and non-statutory designations e.g. scheduled monuments, listed buildings, conservation areas etc, and non-designated heritage assets.

K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K13 K18

S1 S2 S3 S4 S14

B1 B2 B5 B6

Duty 3 Undertake character analysis of heritage assets and areas e.g. Conservation Area Appraisals, historic landscape or area characterisation, urban design analysis, assessment of setting.

K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K15 K17 K18

S1 S2 S3 S5 S6 S13

B1 B2 B5 B6

Duty 4 Assess the condition of the historic environment, including actioning measures for monitoring, protection and discharge of legal responsibilities.

K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K18

S1 S2 S4 S6 S9

B1 B2 B5 B6

Duty 5 Prepare specifications for, undertake, lead on or monitor compliance of, specialist research and investigation where required to support the provision of historic environment advice e.g. desk-based assessment, field investigation and analysis, evaluation or building fabric analysis.

K3 K5 K8 K11 K12 K18

S5 S6 S11 S14 S15

B1 B2 B5 B6

Duty 6 Prepare, appraise, lead or provide advice on plans for the management of change of heritage assets and areas, and strategies for managing their loss, their protection, enhancement or regeneration, including preparation, appraisal and management of statutory consents and legal responsibilities, including supporting statements, conditions, appeals and enforcement/prosecution.

K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K13 K15 K17 K18

S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S7 S8 S9 S13 S14 S15

B1 B2 B5 B6

Duty 7 Establish performance requirements, monitor and assure quality for projects and schemes which impact heritage assets and areas to ensure they meet agreed specifications, e.g ensure construction works comply with the approved architectural or landscape design and constructional specification.

K2 K3 K5 K6 K11 K12 K13 K15 K17 K18

S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S7 S8 S9 S13 S14

B1 B2 B5 B6

Duty 8 Provide advice on or appraise the quality of design proposals involving the historic environment and the impact of proposals for change e.g. the impacts of infrastructure alterations, new build development, extensions, adaptations, refurbishments and public realm schemes. Contribute to Environmental Impact Assessments, Strategic Environmental Assessments and Sustainability Appraisals.

K1 K2 K4 K5 K6 K7 K13 K15 K17 K18

S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S7 S8 S9 S13 S14

B1 B2 B5 B6

Duty 9 Provide advice on or assess sustainability in the historic environment. For buildings, it includes assessment of building performance and potential for retrofitting.

K1 K2 K4 K7 K15 K17

S1 S2 S3 S4 S13

B1 B2 B5 B6

Duty 10 Prepare, provide advice on or assess repair and specifications for conservation, maintenance, repair and renovation of heritage assets

K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K7 K9 K15 K17

S1 S2 S3 S4 S7 S13

B1 B2 B5 B6

Duty 11 Prepare, lead, appraise or provide advice on the financial aspects of a wide range of projects and initiatives relating to the historic environment, e.g. project costings, grant applications and monitoring, economic viability assessments, feasibility studies and business plans.

K3 K7 K11 K13 K15 K17

S2 S3 S5 S13 S14

B2 B5 B6

Duty 12 Provide formal and informal oral and written advice and professional judgments to clients, colleagues, external stakeholders and others on historic buildings, structures, areas, archaeological sites and landscapes.

K1 K2 K4 K5 K6 K13 K18

S3 S4 S8 S9 S14

B2 B5 B6

Duty 13 Lead on the development, interpretation or assessment of heritage legislation, policy and guidance at local, regional, national and international levels.

K1 K2 K6 K7 K13 K18

S1 S4 S5 S8 S9 S10 S11 S14 S15

B2 B5 B6

Duty 14 Prepare, lead or provide advice on, or appraise strategies for heritage, including the role of heritage in addressing economic development and sustainability, neighbourhood planning, regeneration, housing, employment, town centres, rural areas, and other planning and placemaking issues.

K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K9 K13 K15 K17 K18

S1 S2 S3 S5 S6 S7 S8 S9 S13 S14 S15

B1 B2 B5 B6

Duty 15 Provide leadership and manage staff, volunteers, external specialists or others, review and monitor others’ work to technical standards. Be responsible for education and skills development in the workplace including dissemination of information.

K2 K6 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14

S7 S10 S12

B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6

Duty 16 Raise awareness, appreciation and understanding of the historic environment, historic environment resources and promote good conservation practice. Effectively lead and manage communications with stakeholders and other interested parties, including statutory consultation.

K5 K6 K7 K8 K13

S5 S8 S9 S10 S12 S14

B2 B3 B4 B5 B6

Duty 17 Contribute to, or lead, the development of practice through research, publication, participation in professional or academic events. Develop, or lead on the development of, new techniques and best practice.

K1 K3 K5 K6 K8 K9 K10 K11 K14

S8 S9 S10 S11 S12 S14 S15

B2 B3 B5 B6

Duty 18 Prepare, lead on the production of, or review products derived from work on the historic environment for both professional and public audiences, e.g. publications, exhibitions and archives (including Historic Environment Records).

K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K13

S8 S9 S10 S11 S12 S14

B2 B3 B5 B6


KSBs

Knowledge

K1: relevant statutory legislation, policies, frameworks, strategies, and best practice for the historic environment. Back to Duty

K2: standards and compliance processes for the historic environment. Back to Duty

K3: established techniques of investigation, research, documentation and management for the historic environment, as well as new techniques or approaches and their associated risks. How to conduct these techniques, and how to monitor others doing so. Back to Duty

K4: conservation principles and the agents of deterioration, and how to evaluate the significance and condition of the historic environment. Back to Duty

K5: British archaeological or architectural practice and chronology, including expert understanding and recognition of archaeological site or building types, styles, and periods. Back to Duty

K6: wider political, social and economic context of the historic environment and other sectors within the individual’s specialist area of work (e.g. construction, planning, design, tourism), their relationship to historic environment decision-making and the roles and responsibilities of statutory authorities, heritage organisations and specialists. Back to Duty

K7: when and how to provide advice and guidance, either verbally, through written reports, publication or public speaking. Back to Duty

K8: current academic research, and regional, national and international research agendas, developing and expanding on knowledge within their area of expertise. Back to Duty

K9: editorial, drawing and report writing techniques required within the historic environment. Back to Duty

K10: how to develop a personal action plan for learning and self-development with realistic but challenging objectives, expectations and priorities, and how to align this with the interests of the organisation/employer. Back to Duty

K11: techniques for the leadership, management and delivery of projects, including complex projects with many interacting factors. Techniques include budgeting, timetabling and quality assurance, assessment of skillsets and capacity of wider teams. How to review and report on the quality of other’s work. Back to Duty

K12: their Employer’s Health and Safety Policy and Procedures and operational procedures, including risk assessment, and how those relate to industry standards. Back to Duty

K13: the needs and expectations of a range of customers, colleagues and stakeholders. How to communicate effectively, including management of stakeholders, mediation, public engagement and partnership working. Back to Duty

K14: how to practice in line with current theories and methodologies, and to question and reframe these to develop fresh perspectives and new ways of working to manage complex historic environmental conceptual issues at senior level in a strategic context. Back to Duty

K15: appropriate techniques and materials for the repair of historic buildings and monuments. Back to Duty

K16: professional ethics and codes of conduct involved in the management of projects and the historic environment, including recognising conflicts of interests and appropriate processes for dealing with these. Back to Duty

K17: how to assess sustainability in the historic environment, and the contribution of the historic environment to placemaking, planning and economic development issues. Back to Duty

K18: how to demonstrate critical analysis, interpretation and evaluation of complex historic environmental information, synthesising multi-source data and concepts to make high level recommendations and drive changes in historic environment practice in keeping with organisational and sectoral strategic priorities. Back to Duty

Skills

S1: contextualise, interpret and apply relevant statutory legislation, policies, frameworks, strategies, and best practice for the historic environment. Back to Duty

S2: establish and monitor implementation of standards and compliance processes for the historic environment. Back to Duty

S3: provide expert advice and guidance to clients, colleagues and stakeholders, exercising appropriate judgement and decision making and recognising when to involve others. Back to Duty

S4: prepare and deliver evidence for the enhancement or protection of the historic environment, including that required for relevant hearings, inquiries, public meetings, appeals, written statements, proofs of evidence and expert witness testimony. Back to Duty

S5: lead and work as part of a team to manage and deliver projects of all scales and complexities. Be responsible for own work, and where applicable have significant personal accountability for others and/or the allocation of resources, in a wide variety of contexts. Back to Duty

S6: design, execute and monitor project plans and investigations. Conduct specialist research and investigation, reformulate and interpret complex historic environment data to provide specialist analysis. Back to Duty

S7: review and report on the quality of other’s work constructively and effectively, including technical work, be responsible for quality assurance. Back to Duty

S8: lead on, produce, review, or update documentation and information on the historic environment using relevant analytical, editorial, drawing and report writing techniques. Back to Duty

S9: apply policy to decision making, including developing new approaches and policy and best practice guidance. Assess and evidence gaps in knowledge or skills to support heritage protection, management and policy development. Back to Duty

S10: raise awareness, appreciation and understanding of the historic environment, promoting good conservation practice, including through public engagement activities. Back to Duty

S11: contribute to advances in the body of knowledge and historic environment practice, through research, publication, participation in professional and academic networks and events. Back to Duty

S12: supervise, train and develop colleagues, external clients and stakeholders where relevant. Back to Duty

S13: apply relevant sustainability principles to historic environment projects. Back to Duty

S14: present verbal and written arguments clearly and effectively. Back to Duty

S15: manage significant workloads of complex and conflicting data from multiple sources, demonstrating fluency with a wide range of historic environment theory, method and data sources, that can be used to challenge, reformulate and produced clear strategic recommendations and significant changes in historic environment advice. Back to Duty

Behaviours

B1: take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and of others, including members of the public, who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work Back to Duty

B2: be capable of conceptual thought, independent decision-making and professional judgement in order to solve problems and tackle complex projects with many interacting factors Back to Duty

B3: commit to quality and their continuous professional development Back to Duty

B4: work effectively individually and as part of a team, including providing strategic leadership. Contributing to, and supporting others to, work and drive change and innovation within the context of organisational, sectoral and wider governmental and commercial strategic priorities relevant to the historic environment. Back to Duty

B5: develop and maintain honest and constructive client and colleague relationships. Be approachable and able to communicate with all levels of their own and other organisations, as well as the general public Back to Duty

B6: be resilient and deal with controversial issues and conflicts of interest, difficult situations and confidential data sensitively. Be sensitive to and aware of the significance of the historic environment, and the needs of its stakeholders, being conscious of integrity, honesty and professional ethical requirements. Back to Duty


Qualifications

English and Maths

Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment. For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3. A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.

Other mandatory qualifications

High Level Qualification

A Masters degree in a relevant Conservation or Archaeology of the Historic Environment or Heritage specialism e.g. Conservation of the Historic Environment, Cultural Heritage Management, Historic Building Conservation, Archaeology of Buildings.

Level: 7 (non-integrated degree)

Professional recognition

This standard aligns with the following professional recognition:

  • Chartered Institute for Archaeologists for Membership
  • Chartered Institute of Building for Membership


Additional details

Occupational Level:

7

Duration (months):

36

Review

this apprenticeship will be reviewed in accordance with our change request policy.

Status: Approved for delivery
Level: 7
Degree: non-integrated degree
Reference: ST0831
Version: 1.0
Date updated: 18/01/2022
Approved for delivery: 9 June 2020
Route: Creative and design
Typical duration to gateway: 36 months (this does not include EPA period)
Maximum funding: £15000
LARS Code: 566
EQA Provider: Ofqual
Employers involved in creating the standard: Historic England, Museum of London Archaeology, Oxford Archaeology, Cotswold Archaeology, Essex Archaeology, Arup, Albion Archaeology, Archaeology Warwickshire, ASWYAS, Allen Archaeology

Version log

Version Change detail Earliest start date Latest start date
1.0 Approved for delivery 09/06/2020 Not set

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