Restoration- Darlington restoration specialists fly high with training
Staff at one of the UK’s most prominent restoration and specialist maintenance companies, based in Darlington, have been undertaking strict training programmes to ensure that they are leaders in their field.
Stone Technical Services’ team of fixers and masons in its restoration department all now have important accreditation which proves their skills in the heritage sector.
All members of Stone’s restoration team are holders of the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) Heritage Skills Card which is endorsed by English Heritage and confirms that those working on heritage buildings are competent in their field and have health and safety awareness.
In February, Sir Michael Latham, Chairman of ConstructionSkills, called for more craftspeople and building professionals in the built heritage sector to apply for CSCS cards emphasising the need for the right mix of skills, expertise, knowledge and experience to carry out this type of work.
The CSCS card was developed jointly by the CSCS and the NHTG (National Heritage Training Group) and launched in September 2008.
The NHTG introduced the card after it carried out research which showed that around two thirds of those who work on pre-1919 buildings did not have the right skills to do so, mainly because the vast majority of those are general builders who move from new-build to repair and maintenance.
Unlike these, all of Stone’s staff are continually trained to the highest level meeting standards laid down not only by the CSCS, but also by organisations such as the CITB-Construction Skills.
Staff are also trained in specialist areas such as lime mortar, a material used in many historic buildings, undertaking a variety of industry-regulated courses such as those piloted by the North East Heritage Skills Project and North of England Civic Trust.
In addition, managers at Stone implement a strict in-house training policy on areas such as lightning protection, health and safety and restoration to ensure staff exceed industry standards.
Stone employs a team of 25 at its headquarters in Darlington and also in Middlesex. Thanks to its highly-trained workforce, the company works on famous buildings such as Westminster Abbey, the Royal Courts of Justice and Selfridges in London and for organisations such as English Heritage and the National Trust as well as for well known industrial clients such as INEOS Plant Utilities and Teesside Power Station.
Stone’s success means that it will continually grow its workforce and open new regional offices throughout 2010 as well as increase its £2 million turnover by 25%.
Managing director, Dave Stone said: “We place the utmost importance on all of our staff being trained to the highest industry standards and we’re constantly working with our team to update skills in line with requirements and beyond.
“We have been active supporters of the Heritage Skills Card as we hope that the scheme will help to further integrate this highly-skilled sector into mainstream construction practice. It’s also vital that anyone working in this crucially important sector has the proper skills to work on heritage buildings in a sustainable and sympathetic manner, as we do at Stone.”
