46 CONTEXT 183 : MARCH 2025 best to take advantage of the IHBC’s national resources, services and networks, and on arrangements to add capacity in critical areas. I have also sent our consultants working guidance on our operations, and their evolving roles, to explore and review. Please remember that we are still formalising this very new idea of a small, flexible network of part-time, heritage-linked consultants to help our branches. So while each consultant offers regionally focused support for their allocated branch committees, it will take a little time to get to know you all, and your key networks. And as our consultants have – currently – only a half day a week to spread their service across some four or so branches, their time is constrained. The National Office is also working with a consultant specialising in design and communications to enhance branch access to more technical design support and social media infrastructure. More details are due soon. IHBC Councils, online and blended, with vice president nomination calls; Petition for Charter updates, and much more IHBC’s Councils are, exclusively, for all IHBC member categories… Our first ‘blended’ Council under the new Articles is due to be held courtesy of London’s Charterhouse and its chief executive, IHBC member Peter Aiers. There we also welcome current vice president Rebecca Thompson as next president, and elect vice presidents under a new protocol (details to come)… Councils also include updates on progress in our exploration of the Charter, notably around the submission of a Memorandum… We have received commendations from a wide range of chartered and un-chartered bodies, and await more. All of this attests to the success of our branches, volunteers and linked networks in promoting the IHBC and our practice standards. 2025 Shrewsbury School on ‘Heritage in Context’, with sponsorship funds for branch-linked events Our new consultant posts will add capacity to the already extended role that the National Office plays in managing our Annual Schools. The West Midlands Branch is progressing well on its arrangements for the 2025 School on 12–14 June... Our new ‘blended School’ arrangements, recently agreed by the Board, see the National Office take a lead in their planning, helping reduce pressure on branches. The new blended model also extends the IHBC’s reach substantially, offering easy, low-cost online access for colleagues with even the most lateral interests in heritage. Please promote our School in any ways you can when our booking opens. Also, as noted before, our 2024 and 2025 School Reception sponsor, Velux, has agreed to sponsor local branch events – ideally linked to the School theme – where there is an opportunity to discuss their products. Further updates are summarised as follows: The IHBC’s Annual General Meeting for 2025 is approaching. The timing is in flux so we can best update on the Charter developments… If you are (or if you know of members who are) interested in a voluntary role as an IHBC Trustee, the duties and obligations can be explored first through our web guidance. CPD Branch Partnership Following the initial success of the Branch CPD Training Pilot, the model is being extended to include three new priority topics. These are Placemaking and Design Codes, delivered by Dave Chetwyn; Fire Protection and Regulations, by Steve Emery; and Enforcement, by Bob Kindred. These join three existing topics that are still available: Retrofit, by John Edwards; Conservation Engineering, by Ian Hume; and Conservation Legislation and Curtilage, by Charles Mynors… New MATE Accreditation sessions piloting simpler and shorter application forms As we digest the conclusions of the very successful (and free) themed MATE Accreditation sessions from before Christmas 2024 (piloting our evolving new application forms), more are planned for the coming weeks and months. As our Chair says of the new forms, the ‘changes simplify access to our practice standards by minimising those procedures that underpin our assessment of competence in interdisciplinary conservation practice’. Branch Committee confab (online): New plans with suggestions sought… Fee, finance and branch guidance page At this time of year, membership renewals are due. It is useful, where possible and while thanking members for their support, if you can remind members of the great value our fees offer, not least as a top-up to other (invariably more substantial) professional fees… There are further reductions through tax relief (which need to be claimed from HMRC), and reduced rates for lower incomes… Signing off in my role as director, I called on all to contact the National Office or their IHBC Branch Consultants to let us know what we can do to help. I hope this serves as a useful summary for the ways we are trying to help IHBC volunteers, branches and members as we continue our efforts, undiminished by our exploration of Charter – indeed, expanded by it. That, of course, will be the subject of a future column. Seán O’Reilly, director@ihbc.org.uk
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