Connection, bricks and building the future: lessons learnt from the London Festival of Architecture Heritage Skills panel

Burrell Foley Fischer’s Managing Director and Specialist Conservation Architect, Faye Davies, recently joined a panel of leading heritage professionals at Alexandra Palace as part of the London Festival of Architecture.

Held on 3 June, the discussion explored the vital role that heritage skills and traditional trades can play in creating meaningful career opportunities for young people. At a time when more than one million young people in the UK are not in employment, education or training, the panel considered how the heritage sector can offer fulfilling career pathways, foster a sense of belonging, and help address skills shortages, while reflecting on the role Alexandra Palace can play in supporting the next generation.

Chaired by Hannah Parham of Historic England, the panel brought together Faye Davies, architectural historian Neal Shasore, Lewis Proudfoot of Cliveden Conservation, and Alexandra Palace’s Head of Property and Engineering, Iain McDonald. Together, they shared insights into the value of conservation skills, the importance of preserving traditional crafts, and the opportunities available within the heritage sector.

The discussion highlighted both the challenges and opportunities facing the heritage sector as it seeks to attract the next generation of skilled craftspeople. Panellists agreed that greater awareness of careers in conservation and traditional trades is needed, particularly among young people, as demand for specialist skills continues to grow. They emphasised that heritage careers offer rewarding, hands-on work that combines technical expertise with creativity, while making a lasting contribution to communities and the historic built environment.

The panel also explored how pathways into the profession are evolving, recognising the importance of creating more inclusive routes into heritage crafts and ensuring that restoration projects reflect the needs of today's diverse communities. With the conservation sector playing an increasingly important role in sustainable construction and building repair, traditional skills were identified as both highly transferable and essential for the future.

Alexandra Palace was highlighted as a significant opportunity to help address the heritage skills gap. Through its ongoing restoration programme and public engagement activities, the Palace has the potential to inspire, train and support the next generation of conservation professionals and specialist craftspeople.

As an RIBA-accredited Specialist Conservation Architect, Faye has led several recent projects for Burrell Foley Fischer at Alexandra Palace. Most recently, she oversaw the restoration of the North East Office Building, transforming the final inaccessible area within the seven-acre site from an unsafe, deteriorating structure into a secure, weatherproof shell. She continues to work closely with the Alexandra Palace Trust to explore opportunities for the building's future use.

Faye is a passionate advocate for the preservation of traditional heritage crafts and the specialist skills that underpin the conservation of historic buildings. She believes these crafts play a vital role in connecting people with history, place and cultural identity, while ensuring that historic structures can be repaired and adapted with authenticity and care. Protecting these skills not only safeguards valuable knowledge for future generations but also supports more sustainable approaches to construction through repair, longevity and craftsmanship.

The London Festival of Architecture is the world's largest annual architecture festival, celebrating architecture, urban design and city-making through a month-long programme of events across London. The festival brings together architects, designers, artists, communities and industry professionals to explore how the built environment can create a more inclusive, sustainable and inspiring city.

Further details of the findings can be found on Ally Pally’s website at:

https://www.alexandrapalace.com/blog/heritage-skills-panel-and-participaton/