minister to speak at heritage crafts skills meeting

The Heritage Crafts Association have been working with government as part of the BIS Craft Skills Advisory Board developing a strategy to ensure craft skills are encouraged and thrive in the future. We have now facilitated a meeting at which all crafts organisations can come together to discus skills training issues, tell us about training schemes that are working well, difficulties that need to be overcome and see if we can work together to present a strong and cohesive voice and plan for the future.

The skills minister John Hayes will be present, he really is passionate about the crafts and very keen to address issues facing the sector. Jo Reilly who leads on skills at the Heritage Lottery Fund will also speak about the £17m skills for the future project and other successful skills training schemes.

The main focus of the day though will be facilitated discussion groups in which you can have your say, discuss the issues with others with a keen interest in skills training and help determine how we can work together to support these skills in the future.

This sort of event is not cheap to put on but for delegates it will be free thanks to very generous sponsorship by the Balvenie, the most handcrafted single malt Scotch whisky.
They are even paying for delegates to have a free lunch and after the business part of the day and the ministers speech there will be an optional whisky tasting of some very special bottles of the Balvenie.

There are limited places and these have been offered first to the chairs and representatives of the various craft associations as we want all crafts to be represented. HCA members/friends get second call and then if there are free spaces on Tuseday 6th we will open up for anyone else. Contact Sally Dodson at the info HCA email address if you would like to come. The event takes place in London on May 11th
more details here