The single largest intake of Historic Scotland traditional skills apprentices have taken up their posts today with 18 new recruits starting their four-year training programme.

The new intake includes 15 stonemasons, two electricians and one joiner, all of whom will take part in an induction programme at Forth Valley College before taking up their posts across various sites from Shetland to the Borders in the coming weeks.

The initiative follows a call from Historic Scotland earlier this year for a new batch of recruits to ensure the ongoing demand for traditional and essential skills across the historic environment is met.

The new additions will bring the total number of apprentices employed by Historic Scotland in the last five years to 48, and by April 2014, the organisation will have around 60 construction apprentices in training, making it one of the largest trainers of traditional crafts in Scotland and the UK.

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The trainee positions focus on learning the traditional craft skills required in their chosen discipline with a focus on conservation.

While much of the training will take place on-site at one of Historic Scotland’s properties in care, there will be time spent in college at various stages throughout the four-year programme. At the end of the apprenticeship, participants will gain an industry-recognised qualification.

The latest recruitment drive builds on the Stimulating Demand for Traditional Skills Ministerial Summit, hosted by Fiona Hyslop, the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs in November 2012, when a sector-wide approach to driving more interest in traditional skills was discussed.

Speaking about the scheme, Ms Hyslop said: "Keeping traditional skills alive plays a crucial role in the preservation of Scotland’s historic environment and I am thrilled to see 18 new apprentices starting work in this important field.

"These trainee positions will have a focus on conservation and will see vital traditional skills being preserved and nurtured, as well as offering 18 young people the opportunity to gain industry-recognised qualifications."

(JP/CD)