UKSPF project: North East Wales Heritage Skills Partnership

Funded by UK Government logo

Project lead: The Little Learning Company

This project is being funded in the UKSPF transition year.

Find out more about the UKSPF transitional year.

Project overview

This heritage and skills project will support and protect heritage crafts, construction, and engineering through the creation of training and knowledge sharing opportunities across sites in Denbighshire, putting North Wales at the forefront of heritage skills delivery.

The project will:

  • increase the training capacity within the sector
  • create and facilitate knowledge sharing opportunities to support the existing heritage skills network
  • develop and deliver new opportunities for people aged 16+ to join the sector
  • create a number of progression opportunities for people to progress to FE, HE, or employment
  • help to address the heritage skills shortage
  • align heritage skills provision to mainstream funding
  • provide new opportunities to increase their numeracy skills

Project updates

Project summary December 2022 to March 2025

The Heritage Skills project, led by The Little Learning Company significantly exceeded its targets in Denbighshire by engaging 841 participants and supporting hundreds in life skills and education.

Focused on traditional crafts and heritage construction, the project delivered hands-on training in skills such as blacksmithing, dry-stone walling, and timber framing. It led to increased employability, qualifications, and community engagement, with many learners reporting improved wellbeing and reduced isolation.

A new Traditional Skills Workshop was established in Denbigh, and partnerships with schools, charities, and heritage sites strengthened local delivery.

Despite challenges in delivering some construction-focused courses, the project laid the groundwork for a long-term heritage training network in North Wales.

March 2024

The Little Learning Company has made a lot of progress with their project in recent months.

They started renting the Armoury Conservation Trust (ACT) Lock Up from the 1 of Feb and will continue to do so until the 31 of October 2024. They’ve been able to use the space for course delivery, meetings and storage.

They have delivered a number of courses, including crafting, dry stone walling, wet felting, peg loom weaving and a level 2 accredited Train the Trainer course with many more courses planned.