I started as a trainee at Cotswold Archaeology in 2022 after graduating from Cardiff University the same year, then gradually progressed to become a supervisor in September 2025. I had previously attended a research excavation in Herefordshire every year, where a large part of the project was communicating our findings to the public.
This was where I realised community archaeology was the path I wanted to take. I started my current position of Assistant Community Archaeologist with Headland Archaeology in January 2026, which was when I decided to apply for PCIfA.
I decided to apply at this stage as my role required increased interaction with people within the industry, more networking events and in general a connection to the wider sector. Gaining a professional accreditation has therefore enabled me to be more present in conversations with stakeholders, project managers and leading figures within Community Archaeology.
I spent a long time reading through the codes of conduct and guidelines before putting together my application which can seem a dauntingly long form to fill out. I completed a little bit every day and tackled it in sections, rather than everything all at once.
I have been very lucky to attend the Herefordshire research excavation every year since 2021as CPD, and I really recommend research excavations and community projects as opportunities for this. I look at ‘Dig It!’ for volunteering opportunities on Scottish archaeological projects, and the Council for British Archaeology website for volunteer opportunities in the rest of the UK.