The need to develop a coherent approach to training in order to secure the future of many of our traditional craft skills was the subject of conference held on 13 November at Salford Quays, Manchester, in conjunction with the SkillCity event.

With an attendance of some 80,000 young people, SkillCity was billed as the largest careers exhibition in Europe.

Unfortunately, a career in a rural craft-based micro-business is not seen by many school leavers as a particularly attractive option these days, with the result that the long term future of some trades will be under threat if the question of training the next generation is not addressed.

Although the conference itself was not heavily subscribed, it was attended by representatives of most of the organizations active in the sector.

The conference was organized by UK Skills and presentations were made on different aspects of the training and the recruitment challenge by speakers from the Countryside Agency, Reading University, Department of Culture, Media & Sport, Lottery Heritage Fund, English Heritage and Donald Insall Associates.