Championing Archaeological Businesses

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Author: Doug Rocks-Macqueen

  • State of the Archaeological Market 2021

    The State of the Archaeological Market 2020-21 report, during the height of COVID, is now finished. This forward from FAME’s chair sums up its unexpected findings:

    This year’s report is remarkable because of the counter-intuitive picture it provides on how commercial archaeological practice successfully managed the risks that Covid 19 and associated lockdowns brought to the economy. The fact that archaeological organizations did not close down, and many have flourished during this period, is testament to the adaptability and inventiveness of managers and staff who appreciated the need to find safe methods of working so, as an industry, we could continue to support our clients in the delivery of essential services.

    Although the big transport schemes were obvious essential projects of strategic importance which underpinned some of our income, the survey has shown surprisingly that residential housing was marginally more important as a revenue stream during this period. The effect of HS2, Crossrail and large road schemes had changed the pattern of funding over the past two years from what had previously been a business environment dominated by housing, and now the two sectors are of equal importance as clients for commercial archaeological practice.

    It is also reassuring to witness the gradual increase in rates of turnover per staff member and the percentage of profit/surplus that is being achieved. This enables growing levels of investment and training of staff, and provides a stronger foundation for the sustainability of archaeological organizations servicing the private sector.

    A record number of archaeologists are now employed in our industry, and yet we are finding recurrent problems in recruitment. On the evidence from the survey it appears that we need to focus on how best to attract, train and retain a larger number of archaeologists, and construct a clearer career trajectory, so that we build in resilience for the future, continue to help the UK economy flourish, and enrich society through dissemination of the results from our investigations.

    Tim Malim, Chair: Federation of Archaeological Managers and Employers

    You can download the report here – always check here for the most recent version, on occasion changes are made, this is version 1.1:

    State-of-the-Archaeological-Market-2021-2Download
  • H&S Notice: Walkover surveys in hot weather

    H&S Notice: Walkover surveys in hot weather

    FAME H&S Notices are real-world examples of incidents, provided anonymously by FAME members, that highlight learning opportunities for the sector to improve our health and safety working.

    This notice concerns a walk over survey in hot weather. Always check here for the latest version – occasionally the list of resources at the end might be updated with new information.

    Download it here:

    FAME-H_S-notice-Walkover-surveys-in-hot-weatherDownload

  • Notice of FAME Forum Programme

    The programme for the FAME forum will be as follows:

    17th June 2022

    The Next Normal: Developing Commercial Archaeology Business and Practice

    Merchant Taylors’ Hall, Aldwark, York YO1 7BX

    0900      Coffee

    0945      FAME Forum opening

    1000      Mike Heaton – Michael Heaton Heritage Consultants     

    Archaeological Standard Method of Measurement: a FAME initiative

    1045      Amy Atkins – MOLA

    Valuing and investing in training & professional development

    1115      Keith May – AHRC Leadership Fellow & Historic England 

    A glitch in The Matrix?

    1200      Duncan Brown – Historic England, Tim Malim – FAME     

    Archaeological Archiving, FAME and the Future

    1230      lunch

    1315      Iain Rockley & Natacha Chenevoy – Diggit Archaeology   

    Data standardisation and the future of recording our past

    1345      Sophie Jackson  – MOLA              

    The 2021 CIRIA Guide on archaeology and construction – changing the value conversation

    1415      tea

    1430      Phil Pollard & Jasmine Fowler – Historic England, Martin Locock – University of Wales Trinity St David

    Trailblazing apprentices as a revolution in staff development

    1500      Doug Rocks-Macqueen & Tim Malim – FAME      

    FAME’s Future

    1545      close

    1600      disperse

    Book your tickets here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/292309885737

  • New member: MAP Archaeological Practice

    FAME welcomes new member MAP Archaeological Practice.

    MAP Archaeological Practice Ltd are one of the leading Archaeological Contractors in the North of England, delivering high quality and customer focussed services to their clients. With an extensive portfolio of works across the UK, they have built a reputation for meeting client’s needs, while contributing to our understanding of the history and archaeology in each region. All their work is carried out to the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIFA) Code of Conduct.

    Learn more about them on their website: https://maparchltd.co.uk/

  • Alert: Ear loop respirators/masks do not provide protection as tight fitting RPE

    New HSE research has revealed that respirators/masks which rely on ear loops (including those provided with clips, ‘snuggers’ or other means of tightening the fit of the mask) to hold the respirator/mask in place, do not protect people adequately when used as tight fitting respiratory protective equipment (RPE).

    This relates to FFP2 masks, not surgical or other masks. If you have identified that tight fitting RPE is required in a risk assessment then you should note that HSE does not recommend using a mask/respirator which relies on ear loops to hold it in place.

    Image by Marco Verch Professional Photographer CC BY 2.0 https://www.flickr.com/photos/30478819@N08/50894723071

  • Build for the Future; East Midlands

    FAME member Archaeological Project Services is happy to say that Build for the Future; East Midlands is back!

    The annual event is returning for its third year on Tuesday 17th May at the Lincolnshire Showground, following the successful event in September 2021. The event welcomed over 60 exhibitors from across the industry, and hundreds of delegates on the day.

    Hosted by Heritage Lincolnshire and Archaeological Project Services, sponsored by Arion & Arion Shop UK and working in partnership with the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce this event has already grown from the successful event of February 2020. 

    The annual event is directly marketed and aimed at those within the Construction, Property, Heritage, Sustainability and Trade Industries across the East Midlands and its goal is to become the biggest in this UK region for supporting and connecting businesses.

    2021’s event will showcase four zones; Heritage, Construction, Property Services and Adaption to Climate Change, where industry professionals will be exhibiting throughout the day for you to connect and network.

    Event Organiser and Business Manager for Heritage Lincolnshire, Hannah Thompson says, ‘Connecting businesses is so important following the past two years we have all been through.  To be able to bring together local businesses and enable them to network, exhibit and learn all under one roof is just amazing.  We wanted to make sure this event was accessible to all sizes of businesses which is why the prices are lower than average for an exhibition and we want to continue that ethos as we grow. We are really looking forward to bringing this event back to the Showground, bigger and better for 2021 and post Covid.’

    Everyone is welcome to attend the day with over 60 exhibitors, a full talks programme and The Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce will be hosting their monthly Construction and Property Network event free of charge which last year welcomed over 70 businesses.

    For the full list of exhibitors and information about the event, please go to www.buildforthefuture.co.uk

    To register to be a delegate please go to www.buildforthefuture.co.uk

  • Free Build Heritage (Country Houses) Webinars

    Scottish Historic Buildings Trust have organised a short series titled ‘New Perspectives of the Country House’ which contains four free online talks throughout May and June. Details:

    From the Country House Estate to the Council Scheme

    6PM Tue 3rd May (free online event)

    John Lowrey looks at the importance of industry as a component in the economy of the country house estate as far back as the 17th Century.

    Register on Eventbrite

    Projects, Plans and Politics – A Scottish Tour in 1712

    6PM Tue 17th May (free online event)

    Margaret Stewart uses newly uncovered evidence of a Scottish country house tour in 1712 to cast light on the architect James Gibbs.

    Register on Eventbrite

    Ghosts of Strathleven – Colonial History and Approaches to Heritage

    6PM Tue 31st May (free online event)

    Esmé Coppock investigates stories of colonial exploitation, and searches for approaches to heritage which recognise this past.

    Register on Eventbrite

    Technology and the Country House – Understanding Design and Materiality with Drones, LiDAR and 3D Scanning

    6PM Wed 15th June (free online event)

    Dan Bochman explores the use of drones, LiDAR and 3D Scanning to better understand the design and materiality of country houses.

    Register on Eventbrite

  • Guide to Near-miss Reporting – Advice for Archaeological Practitioners

    The FAME Health and Safety Working Group has created its first Health and Safety Guide, to provide detailed practical advice to our members and for the archaeological sector, this one is on Near-miss reporting. The key take-aways of the guide are:

    • Encouraging near misses to be reported and learning from them is positive for the workplace culture of an archaeological business.
    • Carefully categorising what is reported helps ourselves and others understand the health and safety standards in our business.
    • High potential (HiPo) near misses should be investigated as thoroughly as a serious injury accident.

    You can download the guide below. They rarely change but occasional updates do occur and it is best to check this page for the most recent version.

    FAME-Guide-to-Near-miss-Reporting-1Download

    Need more H&S advice? See our FAME H&S Guides:

    Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015

    Near-Miss Reporting

    Safe Working Around Utilities (UK)

    Medication Side-Effects: Heat and Sun Sensitivity

    Safe Working for Archaeologists as part of UK Construction Projects

  • Free Disability Awareness Training

    Free Disability Awareness Training

    Historic England are are offering small to medium sized heritage organisations the opportunity to participate in free Disability Awareness Training led by the Esi Hardy (Celebrating Disability).

    Who will benefit?

    Everyone will be able to benefit from this course and gain new abilities to engage and communicate comfortably with and about disabled people.

    If  you would like to sign up to this please see the links below.

    Register on Eventbrite
    Register on Eventbrite
    Register on Eventbrite

  • FAME welcomes new member Humber Field Archaeology

    FAME welcomes new member Humber Field Archaeology

    Humber Field Archaeology has joined FAME.

    Experts in the archaeology and heritage of Hull, East Yorkshire, North and North East Lincolnshire, Humber Field Archaeology (HFA) have been delivering concise and effective professional archaeological services across this region for over 25 years. Their work is tailored to meet the requirements of their clients, from small scale single dwelling developers to large scale quarry companies and infrastructure enablers, to consistently provide the best, cost-effective archaeological processes with integrated artefact management. As the most successful, continuous provider of archaeological services across the Humber region they have the expertise to provide locally embedded community, outreach and public archaeology.

    Website: https://www.humberfieldarchaeology.co.uk/