An additional 6,500 people, including more than 500 stonemasons and fixers, dry stone wallers and flint knappers, need to be recruited to meet the demands for the restoration and conservation of historic buildings.

The figures are presented in the first report, published last month (June), by the National Heritage Training Group (NHTC), the organisation set up in June 2003 and which launched its business plan in October that year with a proposal to carry out the research that has resulted in the current report, Traditional Building Crafts Skills.

The 148-page report is backed by CITB-Construction Skills, which set up the NHTC with the industry itself, and English Heritage, which, in a unique arrangement, is providing funding to pay for the NHTC officer, Beverly Peters.

The extra recruitment necessary represents a 7.5% increase in the number of people employed by an industry that is identified as currently employing 86,000 people and being worth £3.5billion - substantially more than the CITB best guess of £2billion when the NHTC was formed.

However, the report does note that there will not necessarily be sufficient work to sustain the currently required additional skills levels over a longer period, especially if the current level of work is the result of a backlog.

And it points out that not all the people required have to be new entrants, as there is a fair amount of crossover of skills from those already working in other areas of the construction industry.

The report says estimating the labour requirement is not the same as saying that an equivalent number of people need training. It also notes that improvements in productivity could reduce the number of people needed.

Nevertheless, 51% of contractors contacted report real difficulties recruiting people, 71% of them blaming that on a lack of skills rather than a lack of applicants, although 56% did also complain about a lack of applicants for jobs.

Putting the industry into context, the report says the built heritage sector encompass 4.41million dwellings and 550,000 commercial buildings, although the criteria for inclusion is simply that the building pre-dates 1919. Some could be demolished, although 484,641 of them are listed.

The Action Plan produced involves:

improving advice, guidance and awareness to property owners, clients and specifiers of the importance of using suitably skilled craftspeople

influencing changes to the procurement process so that it drives training in traditional craft skills

securing long-term funding for developing and training the workforce improving the image of the sector and attracting applicants with suitable skills and attitude

ensuring that qualifications and training are relevant, valued and facilitate a recognised career progression

improving awareness of traditional building crafts skills within the national curriculum for schools and promoting the vocational route as a career path

encouraging investment in training by contractors and promoting the benefits of apprenticeships.

David Linford, chairman of the NHTG and of conservation specialists the Linford Group in Lichfield, Staffordshire, was at the launch of the report in Christ Church Spitalfields, London, in June. He said: "The Skills Action Plan has been developed in consultation with everyone involved in heritage building skills - from employers to education providers and clients. We believe it offers a robust solution to current threats to vulnerable trades and buildings and look forward to many years of safeguarding the country\'s built heritage."

John Fidler, conservation director of English Heritage, said: "The message is very clear: it\'s time for joined up thinking and concerted action across the construction industry, the built heritage sector, educational establishments, careers organisations, funding bodies and government departments to tackle a vital issue at the heart of sustaining two things which people hold very dear in this country - beautiful historic buildings and the craftsmanship that maintains them."

Copies of the report are available free from the National Heritage Training Group. Tel: 01509 282857. Or it can be downloaded from the website.