Building the Future – Preserving the Past: Crawley College Students Explore Heritage Trades and Skills 

A group of Construction Students from Crawley College got hands-on with heritage as they had the opportunity to take part in a taster day run by the Sussex Heritage Trust.  

On the day, students were able to take part in a range of heritage trades, including repointing, flint work and heritage timber work, as they visited the Weald & Downland Living Museum, host of the hit TV series The Repair Shop.  

Students were also able to chat with skilled heritage craftsmen, as they were able to watch them work and ask questions, allowing them to gain an insight into the world of heritage craft and the career opportunities in the field.  

This comes as there are an estimated 5.5 million traditional buildings in England that require specific skills and expertise, according to Historic England. This shows a clear demand for workers trained in heritage skills.   

Students from the college were joined by peers from Brighton Met College, Chichester College and Northbrook College, as students from across the Chichester College Group received a day of practical activities, live demonstrations and an introduction to the world of heritage construction.  

The taster day formed part of an ongoing collaboration between the college and Sussex Heritage Trust, which has seen students take part in a number of heritage skills-focused events throughout the year.

Christine Bianchin, Principal of Crawley College, said:  
“We are delighted that our students had the chance to take part in this engaging heritage taster day. The combination of hands-on activities, live demonstrations and conversations with skilled professionals provided a fantastic introduction to heritage construction, while highlighting the important role these traditional crafts play in preserving our historic buildings and communities.”  

Sarah Nute, Education Officer at the Sussex Heritage Trust, added:
“There is a significant shortage of heritage skills across the sector, putting our heritage at risk. The Sussex Heritage Trust Education Programme is about inspiring the next generation to explore careers in heritage and develop the skills needed to protect it for the future.

“We are thrilled to be working with Chichester College Group to introduce students to heritage careers, offering not just a taster day but opportunities for further training and practical work experience to help them take their first steps into the sector.”

To find out about the range of Building Services and Construction courses available at the college, please click here. 

To find out more about the college and the wide range of courses available please come along to the college open event this Saturday. For more information click here.