Is the heritage sector in Scotland failing on skills deficits and apprenticeship training? Measuring the impact of heritage-led skills reporting and educational and training activities

Abstract

The built heritage sector in Scotland has faced well-documented skills shortages for more than two decades, yet repeated skills reports, policy documents and grant-funded training initiatives have resulted in little measurable improvement. This paper evaluates the impact of heritage-led skills reporting and educational and training activities since the publication of the National Heritage Training Group’s 2007 skills needs analysis. Drawing on construction industry data, census statistics, apprenticeship records and heritage skills audits, the study demonstrates significant and ongoing declines in the number of skilled workers employed in trades relevant to the repair and maintenance of pre-1919 buildings. Despite widespread embedding of training within grant-funded programmes — such as Conservation Area Regeneration Schemes — there is little evidence that these activities have translated into sustainable increases in apprenticeship recruitment, upskilling, or trade retention. Analysis further reveals a substantial notional repair and maintenance deficit exceeding £5.1bn between 2007 and 2023, linked in part to the diminishing availability of specialist labour. The findings suggest that sector-led action alone is insufficient to reverse long-term deficits. The paper argues for systemic reform across Scotland’s education, skills, funding and apprenticeship frameworks, aligning with recommendations in the 2023 Fit for the Future review, in order to provide a coherent and effective pathway for workforce renewal in the heritage sector. This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at https://hstalks.com/business/.