members

1. provide an independent focus on training in building conservation,
2. provide a collective voice or lobby for those wishing to influence the direction and implementation of heritage protection policy in relation to standards and training,
3. promote training based on agreed national standards within the industry.

In order to further this role COTAC shall:

•  act as a UK forum on all aspects of conservation education and training
• identify problems and needs and act as a think tank, UK wide
• promote closer co-operation between industry and professional institutions including monitoring
• in consultation with industry, education and  training providers, voluntary bodies and others, seek agreement to determine appropriate actions
• monitor occupational standards and promote common acceptable means of assessing expertise at all levels
•  monitor standards for conservation education and training in the UK and abroad
• provide information on approved education and training courses and placements
• support lecturers, public speakers and mentors
• publish information in appropriate media
• arrange seminars, conferences and exhibitions from time to time
• support and publicise scholarships and bursaries for studies and course attendance both in the UK and abroad

COTAC with NHTG and City & Guilds are working on a revised Master Craft qualification. For this a career progression framework has been prepared (copy attached).   This cross refers to level 3, Master Craft and the higher level qualifications at levels 4 and 5.

With 10 years plus experience, COTAC has the expertise to advise on the development and revision of NVQ’s.   This is one of COTAC’s greatest assets.   Currently it is supporting the development of a new qualification for Scotland.

Edinburgh Group
Initiated by TCRE Historic Scotland as a means of supporting professional registration of conservation expertise, the Edinburgh Group will soon need to establish an independent operational base.  COTAC has offered to provide the necessary support when the change becomes necessary. Meanwhile, COTAC has been asked to act as a bridge for the group, representing its interests in the industry generally.  This it will do through its contact with CIOB and the NHTG and also through it developing contacts in the CIC.

Vocational Qualifications
For the higher level awards, considerable effort has gone into developing the first training centres, assessors and applicants.  We only just survived the tests for renewal of all three qualifications.  Having secured the future of conservation as an option in Building Site Management, we are now active in reviewing the future of Conservation Control.  For the future, we know there is to be a similar review of Conservation Consultancy which ,hopefully can be related to the ongoing review of common standards for professional registers.

Policy Group Meetings.
COTAC has been running a series of group discussions on subject for future consideration and development.  These have included the following.

• Government policy initiatives.   COTAC has responded to the Egan report.
• Higher level qualifications.   CIC visited to discuss the need for representation on a round of reviews of higher level VQ awards.  The current proposal is for COTAC to participate in a group that is reviewing a proposal to merge the qualifications for conservation officers with those of town planners and building control officers.  It was suggested that COTAC should join CIC (at a nominal cost) in order to speak on behalf of all the members of the Standing Conference on issue relating to training for building conservation.
• Way ahead on Master Craft.  We met with Beverley Peters to define the likely framework for development of a new qualification, in co-ordination with NHTG and City & Guilds.
• A discussion was held on the past and future part to be played by BRE in improving standards of performance for building conservation and the sustainable environment. It was agreed that there were opportunities for joint initiatives with COTAC members.   The first of these may be to set up a framework for supporting proposals for new and existing local conservation training centres. 

There is a serious funding problem which needs to be addressed urgently. In the past money has been raised by subscription from Standing Conference members, from sponsors for specific tasks and from grants by Historic Scotland, English Heritage and DCMS.

• Act as a Ginger Group,
  To express common concerns, shared problems and seek to influence legislators, educators, trainers and the industry.
  To take on the task of administrative support for the Edinburgh group. Not all the professional institutions have yet come to terms with the significance of grant giving bodies demand for the maintenance of credible lists.  In future, the group is likely be concentrate on developing and maintaining high standards of proficiency as appropriate for each discipline, all within a common framework as well as promoting  CPD, based on co-operation between disciplines.
• Support for the NHTG
  COTAC acting as a bridge to the wider conservation community as represented by members of Standing Conference.   COTAC will  therefore provide a representative to sit on the NHTG Executive Board and carry out individual initiatives as required, such as development of the Master Crafts qualification and support for new conservation training centres.
• Make higher level VQs respectable
  A common framework for assessing proficiency and expertise at all levels needs to be developed based on professional expertise, registers, VQs and academic qualifications.  One opportunity for this is the review of the higher level VQs with CIC.  We should continue to work in partnership with others on appropriate projects such as the development of a Master Craft qualification. (On going work in developing the take up of the VQs should run down as training centres establish their own track momentum.)  
• Provide advice - For local training centres and other organisations
• Respond to government papers - as necessary
• Develop an information network - with partners, for improved publicity on all conservation training initiatives.
• New Trustees - We will need to recruit additional trustees to represent a wider range of the key institutions
• Funding - With our partners, we must resolve the uncertainties associated with funding.  Whatever the solution, we should avoid the temptation to chase after funds if it takes scarce resources from key objectives.