Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is putting in place a series of measures to encourage more training on projects it is backing.

The move follows the publication on 25 January of Sustaining our Living Heritage, a report based on a study carried out for HLF by HOST Consultancy into the skills and training needs of all parts of the heritage sector.

The report concludes that an acute skills shortage is putting the future of the nation\'s historic buildings, landscapes and habitats at risk.

Stonemasonry is included in the areas identified as having skills shortages.

The report also says traditional techniques such as flint knapping, the use of lime mortar and dry stone walling are in danger of being lost.

Liz Forgan, chair of HLF, said on the publication of the report: "Too many employers are failing to recognise the vital importance of training and development to the future of the heritage sector and there is too wide a gap between the skills that heritage organisations and specialist firms need and what the education and training establishment is offering.

"We need to become more skill-literate, recognising the hidden skills which support our nation\'s heritage."

HLF, which has so far awarded grants totalling £1.8billion to 7,675 projects, undertakes to encourage training in the projects it helps fund.

It is requiring all applicants for major grants (over £1million) to produce a training plan and is strengthening its tender requirements to ensure that those working on HLF projects are properly skilled craftspeople.

A new application pack will be published in the spring making funding available to address training issues within HLF projects, including money for training projects specifically aimed at heritage volunteers.

The Sustaining our Living Heritage report is available on the HLF website, address below.

HLF has given £365,000 to Heritage Information, the website and information service due to be launched later this year to provide those in the conservation industry with information about specialist skills and craftsmanship available in the sector. Heritage Information has already received substantial grants from the DTI and English Heritage.

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