Workplace Learning Bursaries

Training in Archaeology: Workplace Learning Bursaries

Following two successful funding bids to the Heritage Lottery Fund, IfA has offered bursaries for workplace learning placements in archaeological skills development since 2006, and will continue to do so until 2011.

What are Workplace Learning Bursaries?

Between 8 and 10 Heritage Lottery funded bursaries have been available every year for the past 4 years across the UK

Through Workplace Learning Bursaries, IfA has aimed to address identified archaeological skills gaps, and create opportunities for all sectors of the community to gain professional skills in archaeology

What are the benefits?

Successful candidates have been able to undertake industry recognised workplace training built around the National Occupational Standards in Archaeological Practice, lasting between 3 and 12 months

Achievements recorded over the course of the placement may count towards a vocational Qualification in Archaeological Practice

IfA's vision is for archaeologists to be receiving pay and conditions that are comparable with other professionals

What will happen in the future?

The original project was funded for 4 years, and will end this year. It has been extremely successful and we would like to thank all of those involved in past and current placements for making them such worthwhile training opportunities.

In October 2009 we announced that we had successfully secured £355,746.69 of additional funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to continue the project. This new funding will allow the project to continue for another 19 months, allowing 20 more individuals to take up placements with professional archaeological organisations. The new funding will be used to create new placements which will start throughout 2010 and 2011. These new placements will be tailored to meet the skills gaps that have been identified by research undertaken by the IfA and will take account of the changing working landscape that is confronting archaeology as the recession bites into this sector. The project will also identify and train Workplace Learning Champions who will promote the scheme and workplace learning across the sector.

How do I host a placement?

For more information on hosting a placement please download the following document (PDF) information for prospective hosts. We are now recruiting for organisations to host Heritage Lottery funded Workplace Learning Bursary placements for 2011/12. These placements will start in March 2011 and finish in March 2012.

Hosts will be asked to fund 25% of their placement holder’s salary. They will also be obliged to contribute the equivalent of 10% of the total salary in staff time to support the placement. In exceptional circumstances, applications for fully funded placements (100% of salary costs) will be considered.

The deadline for applications to host a placement starting in March 2011 will be Friday 24 September 2010.

Prospective hosts should contact Andrea Bradley at IfA (andrea.bradley@archaeologists.net 0118 378 6446) to request an application pack.

In this final round of placements, as in previous years, hosts will be expected to tailor training to meet the sector’s skills needs. Training priorities include

Conducting and contributing to surveys of historic buildings

Conducting and contributing to geophysical surveys

Desk-based research and assessment

Conservation and research of artefacts and environmental material

Using information technology to manage the historic environment

Report writing

Contributing to intrusive investigations

Conducting (leading or directing) intrusive investigations

Providing information and advice on the conservation and management of the historic environment

IfA will consider proposals for training opportunities which provide other skills, but they will need to demonstrate that they meet the needs of the sector.

Applications will be judged against the following criteria

How well the proposal meets IfA’s identified training priorities

How innovative the training proposal is

The level of support and training offered

Additional benefits offered that will enhance the quality of the placement

The professional standards of the organisation and of staff involved

What opportunities have been on offer?

Eight exciting opportunities were filled during Year 1 (2006-2007); and all placements have now been successfully completed. The feedback was extremely positive, with the majority of hosts keen for another placement! You can view their case studies and an evolving workplace diary by clicking on the links below:

We are running seven new placements in Year 4 (2009-2010) and these have now all been filled:

Archaeological Geophysics and the University of Bradford

Roman Ceramics at Archaeological Project Services
Case Study 30 - Roman Ceramics

Records Management at National Trust for Scotland
Case Study 31 - Records management

Archaeological Conservation Management at Yorkshire Dales National Parks Authority
Case Study 32 - Archaeological Conservation Management

Communicating Archaeology with the Council for British Archaeology

Historic Landscape Analysis at New Forest National Park Authority

Community Archaeology at Hereford Archaeology

In Year 3 (2008-2009) we offered twelve placements which have now been filled and mostly completed

Archaeological conservation management with the Lake District National Park Authority
Case Study 17 - Conservation management

Post excavation with Birmingham Archaeology
Case Study 18 - Post excavation

Historic buildings survey, research and archaeology with Peterborough Cathedral
Case Study 19 - Historic buildings survey, research and archaeology

Graphics for archaeology with the University of Reading
Case Study 20 - Graphics for archaeology

Aerial survey and investigation with English Heritage, York (EPPIC)
Case Study 21 - Aerial survey and investigation

Desk-based assessments with GGAT
Case Study 22 - Desk-Based Assessments

Development control and HER with Perth & Kinross Heritage Trust
Case Study 23 - Development control and HER

Bioarchaeology specialising in cremation osteoarchaeology with the University of Cardiff
Case Study 24 - Bioarchaeology specialising in cremation osteoarchaeology

HER, education and outreach with Durham County Council

Environmental archaeology with Worcestershire County Council

Archive archaeology with Pitt Rivers Museum
Case Study 27 - Archive archaeology

Human osteoarchaeology with Queen's University, Belfast
Case Study 28 - Human osteoarchaeology

In Year 2 (2007-2008) eight placements were filled. You can view several bursary case studies by clicking on the links below

Digital survey and archaeological field recording with AOC
Case Study 9 - Digital survey

Rural archaeology with North Yorkshire County Council -
Case Study 10 - Rural Archaeology

Finds assistant with specialist interest in prehistoric finds and pottery with Headland Archaeology
Case Study 11 - Working with Finds

Heritage Gateway Project work/ monument record enhancement with the National Monuments Record (EH)
Case Study 12 - Heritage Gateway

Assistant training and publications officer with the Nautical Archaeology Society
Case Study 13 - Training and publications

Digital archaeology with the Archaeology Data Service/Internet Archaeology -
Case Study 14 - ADS/Internet Archaeology

Medieval pottery specialism with the Medieval Pottery Research Group at Southampton City Council
Case Study 15 - Medieval pottery

Historical archaeology with ARCUS
Case Study 16 - Historical archaeology

In the first year we offered eight placements

Environmental and finds work with English Heritage
Case Study 1 - 12 facts you didn't know about Foxy

Field survey with the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland
Case Study 2 - Surveying the Highlands of Scotland

Teaching archaeology with the University of Winchester
Case Study 3 - Learning to Lecture

Digital archaeology with the Archaeology Data Service/Internet Archaeology
Case Study 4 - ADS/Internet Archaeology
Workplace Diary - http://www-users.york.ac.uk/~ejor500/ (please note that this diary is a work in progress)

HER Enhancement with Worcestershire County Council
Case Study 5 - Working in HER Enhancement

Bioarchaeology with the University of Cardiff
Case Study 6 - Working with Bones

Building recording with the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales
Case Study 7 - Historic Building Recording

Education and outreach with the Sussex Archaeological Society
Case Study 8 - Museum Education

Who can apply?

Placements are available to archaeologists and would-be archaeologists across the UK. Some may be designed for those in mid-career looking for a chance to specialise or change direction whilst others will be aimed at new graduates or volunteers wanting to enter the profession. Placements may be undertaken on a secondment basis, for those already in employment, or as a formal internship position. Applications will be welcomed from all social groups, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, disability status, sexuality or religious belief.

How do I apply?

Once confirmed and a recruitment schedule has been agreed, placements will be widely advertised on the IfA website, in JIS, on BAJR, BEN, Britarch, the Portable Antiquities Scheme website, via the CBA, Heritage Link and higher education institutions. Watch the IfA News page and keep checking JIS, BAJR and Britarch for more information.

Who do I contact for more information?

For more information contact natasha.kingham@archaeologists.net or download a flyer about the scheme.