Icon Accreditation for built heritage and craft-based practitioners

Introduction

There is a strong opportunity for Icon to broaden access to its system of professional accreditation to individuals working in built heritage and craft-based roles. Indeed, it is clear that there is a significant overlap in the skillset of conservation and built heritage and craft-based practitioners, with many individuals working across both parts of the sector. By embracing a wider definition of conservation, and encouraging higher uptake of professional accreditation from a range of conservation backgrounds, Icon will be able to be more effective in advocating for the profession as a whole, and so highlighting the vital cultural and economic impact of the profession.

To explore the issues further, stakeholders from across the heritage sector were brought together on 25th May 2021 to explore the relevance of Icon Accreditation to the craft and built heritage sector, to identify the steps that need to be taken in order to make the process more accessible, and to support Icon in extending its influence across the conservation profession

Overview of Icon Accreditation

Icon Accreditation demonstrates to clients, employers, and peers that an individual has an in-depth knowledge of conservation, a high degree of competence, sound judgement and a deep understanding of the principles which underpin their practice. The system is based on Icon’s Professional Standards and Judgement & Ethics criteria and designed to be suitable for all conservation professionals.

Since its introduction in 1999 nearly 1,100 professional conservators have become Accredited members of Icon. Icon Accreditation is open to all professional conservators regardless of their specialist area of conservation practice. In fact, there is already a strong representation of professionals working across architectural conservation roles, however it is recognised that this could be expanded further. 

Standards of practice

The Icon Professional Standards and Judgement & Ethics criteria, which underpin Icon Accreditation, define the knowledge and skills that professional conservator-restorers are expected to demonstrate throughout their work. They require an individual to demonstrate that their underpinning technical and material knowledge, and practical skill (where related to their job role) are at a level that enable them to carry out, influence and lead work on complex projects to a consistently high standard and can be relied upon by employers, clients and those commissioning conservation services

The Professional Standards are written in a way to ensure that they can apply to all areas of conservation practice and job roles – the same standards are applied to both paper and stone conservators. The breadth of practice that can be assessed through Icon Accreditation is a key strength of the system and of Icon as an organisation as a whole – allowing Icon to advocate for and work to support all professional conservators more effectively. It is recognised that many professionals operating in the craft based and built heritage sectors are working to the same standards of conservation practice when carrying out their work as those who are operating in more 'traditional' areas of conservation practice.

Raising awareness

It is recognised that there is demand for accreditation to support heritage craft and built heritage professionals and Icon is well placed to support those members in securing professional recognition. However, for many of those for whom Icon Accreditation would be suitable for, it is recognised that there is potentially a lack of understanding of what the process entails and how the specific nature of their professional practice can be assessed by the system. 

Given this, it is clear that there is a need to articulate which aspects of built heritage and craft base working practices can be used as evidence towards Icon Accreditation and to market it accordingly to those working on site, carrying out remedial work as well as managing built heritage conservation projects. This guidance needs to consider the nature of working practices on built heritage sites which are often aligned to construction industry standards and ways of working. For example, the type of standard documentation that is produced, such as condition reports and method statements, do not always match working practices across other areas of the conservation profession.

Supporting the development of guidance, Icon also needs to work closely with those assessing professional conservators to ensure that whilst the evidence base may vary, that assessors are able to maintain the same standard of assessment practice and level of proficiency that must be demonstrated by individuals who are going through the Icon Accreditation process. For example, an individual who is working on built heritage project needs to understand the structure of a decorative feature alongside the underpinning professional judgement and ethics which underpin their decision making when considering treatment options for a project they are working on.

Therefore, support and guidance is needed to help those from craft and built heritage roles to map their professional practice onto the Professional Standards. This will help ensure that individuals are able to recognise and draw out the right level of underpinning material knowledge and awareness of conservation practice that is required in order to demonstrate proficiency through the Accreditation process. 
 

Skills and training

Built heritage and craft based practitioners clearly operate to high standard of practice and technical skill, however it is felt that that some individuals may not have had the opportunity to develop the underpinning knowledge of conservation theory and practice in order to be able to demonstrate the level of underpinning knowledge required of the Icon Accreditation Process. For example, a contractor may quote for work to repair and maintain a floor structure, and well may have proposed acceptable plans of work. However, to become an Accredited member of Icon, individuals must clearly demonstrate that their decision making has been informed by a deep understanding of conservation practice and theory. 

Whilst there are a number of courses already available, there is a need to further develop the underpinning knowledge of conservation ethics and skills that is taught within heritage craft-based training programmes as well as identifying ways for those who are already practicing within the profession to enhance and develop their knowledge.

Next steps

In order to open up and make Icon Accreditation more accessible, Icon needs to:

• Present a clear explanation of the ways in which the Icon Professional Standards apply across a range of conservation disciplines, job roles and professional backgrounds including those working in the craft and built heritage fields. 
• Work with Icon Assessors and volunteer groups to increase awareness of the nature of the working environment of built and craft based practitioners to review the evidence base which can be provided by individuals to demonstrate their proficiency. 
• Develop resources and examples which provide further advice as to the nature of underpinning knowledge of conservation practice that is required and how it is expected that this is applied in working practice. 
• Work closely with the education sector to support the development of training which can support the development of underpinning knowledge of conservation theory and practice.
• Focus marketing and advocacy efforts to promote awareness of the value of Icon Accreditation to stakeholders in the construction sector who work with and commission the services of conservators practicing in built heritage and craft based conservation roles.