The Lichfield Centre for Master Crafts, a business/education partnership between Tamworth & Lichfield College and Lichfield-based construction company Linford Group, has been officially opened by the chairman of English Heritage, Sir Neil Cossons.

Guests at the opening toured the new training centre along with Linford\'s stonemasonry and joinery workshops. Among the guests was Viscount David Linley, the Queen\'s nephew, who is a furniture designer. He addressed the audience, talking about the importance of maintaining and developing master crafts in Britain.

The new 285m2 centre welcomed its first students at the end of September and has been developed to tackle a national shortage of specialist craft training facilities. It also responds directly to local employment and training needs through a combination of site-based training and academic learning.

Sir Neil Cossons commented: "I am delighted to open the Lichfield Centre for Master Crafts. This unique partnership has fuelled a pertinent step forward in keeping traditional skills alive today and particularly raising the standard of historic building conservation.

"The training centre is a great response to the growing demand for highly trained craftsmen and women who understand the wide range of skills and methods used in conservation projects."

Linford Group executive chairman David Linford, who is also chairman of the National Heritage Training Group set up last year, said: "Recruiting and training young people in specialist construction and craft skills is one of the largest challenges facing today\'s construction industry. Our new, modest facility is just the beginning of a five-year development training plan for the Midlands.

"Commitment to training and learning has underpinned the success of Linford Group throughout our 127 years and we are proud to be working with Lichfield School of Art to address this important issue."

The purpose-built centre at Linford\'s Quonians site enables students to train in a variety of crafts courses including wood carving, stonemasonry, architectural joinery, upholstery, fine crafts and sculpture.

Courses are taught by the college\'s Lichfield School of Art and trainees will have opportunities to exchange skills with Linford\'s trainees in the workshops and on local sites.

In due course, supplemental craft courses will be added to the annual curriculum to include other specialist skills required specifically for Linford Group and other similar organisations, including gilding, ironwork, leadwork, roofing, timber frames, letter cutting, decorative plasterwork and other forms of decorations.

Alison Churchill, head of the Lichfield School of Art, said: "Combining practical experience with technical and academic learning has always been the best way of developing tomorrow\'s master craftsmen and craftswomen. Students will truly enjoy the very best of both worlds with the opportunity to work alongside highly skilled craftsmen and receive quality college training that is second to none."