Championing Archaeological Businesses

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Author: Doug Rocks-Macqueen

  • Pay and archaeology: a joint statement by IfA, FAME and Prospect

    The Institute for Archaeologists (IfA), Federation of Archaeological Managers and Employers (FAME) and Prospect have been working together as part of a wider remuneration working group convened by IfA to consider how best to facilitate an industry approach to improving pay and conditions.

    Following on from presentations made by all three organisations at an Open Forum meeting at the IfA Conference in 2013, a joint statement has been agreed committing each organisation to working together to address the issues. In support of this joint statement, IfA has also issued an Action plan 2014-2016 detailing specific actions which it will undertake over the next two years in support of the joint statement.

    In a move towards an industry wide approach, the IfA convened working party is being disbanded and a new ‘industry owned’ group will be formed. This will initially comprise representatives of the three organisations but may be expanded to bring in other members with an interest or expertise in improving pay and conditions for archaeologists.

    The statement can be read here:

    Pay-and-archaeology-joint-statementDownload

  • 2014 FAME Forum Presentations

    The RIBA Plan of Work 2013: an overview John Orrell, Director of the DLA Design Group and member of the RIBA Core Review Group for the Plan of Work 2013

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    What are the key benefits? Fit for purpose for the construction industry in the 21st century to help deliver capital and operational efficiencies, carbon reductions and better briefing and outcomes, more efficient design processes, suitable for all sizes and types of project, suitable for all procurement routes, for use by the whole project team, simple, adaptable and an online tool.

    Why now? To reflect the increasingly complex construction landscape, including the UK Government Construction Strategy, changing procurement processes, the need for earlier collaboration and project team assembly, the importance of client briefing, the importance of handover and post occupancy work, the increasing use of information management including BIM, the complexity of design stages including specialist subcontractor design, and changes in approach to town planning.

    How was it developed? Timeline explaining consultation and review group process. What is new? Explanation of new work stages and numbering 0-7, as opposed to the existing A –L. What does it mean for users? An explanation of project and practice specific plans and a demonstration of how to use the online tool to create your own plan.

    BIM – Hype, hysteria or hope? John Eynon, Director/Consultant, Open Water Consulting

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    The built environment industry is the last major bastion of resistance to the digital age, but this resistance is on the wane under the relentless onslaught of BIM, Big Data and the Smart City movement. The presentation will provide an overview of the current digital context, a brief introduction to BIM and UK strategy, and provide some resources for follow up and pointers towards future developments. And along the way provide some answers to the question “why should I should I care about BIM at all?”

    Procurement and project design for archaeology and infrastructure works. The quality, innovation and price relationship Jay Carver, Project Archaeologist Crossrail Ltd

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    Crossrail Ltd are undertaking up to £5million pounds worth of direct archaeological works during its construction. How has the work been designed and procured? What are the key milestones in that process and what was the framework for appointing suppliers? How were quality, innovation and price assessed, and what lessons can be learnt for clients and the supply chain for future projects? Some thoughts on pricing strategies and different procurement and risk frameworks will be discussed.  Finally what is the crucial role played by design archaeologists and how can archaeological fieldwork companies ensure that they are able to deliver projects with high research, community, and educational impacts whilst meeting the expectations of construction managers and project funding bodies?

    The English Heritage new model: an update Stephen Trow, Heritage Protection Director, English Heritage

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    By the time the FAME Forum meets, it is anticipated that the new Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport will have decided whether to adopt the new model for English Heritage. These new arrangements, originally put forward by the Commissioners of English Heritage, would represent the most radical change to the way England’s historic environment is managed since the organisation was created in 1984.

    Historic England, the new non-departmental public body responsible for advising government on the historic environment would also be operating in a heritage sector itself undergoing considerable change. This presentation will provide an opportunity to update FAME members on the new model proposals and the outcome of the recent consultation on the National Heritage Protection Plan, which will guide the future priorities of Historic England.

    Designing a profession: the value of chartership Peter Hinton, Chief Executive, Institute for Archaeologists

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    This presentation will discuss how and why IfA has successfully petitioned for a Royal Charter of Incorporation, and what the consequences may be for archaeology and archaeologists: IfA members, FAME members and the rest.

    It will outline work IfA is engaged in with the client sector, including CIRIA, and how that is intended to influence market function and promote design-led commissioning. Finally it will suggest how IfA and FAME can work in complementary ways and will report on collaboration between the two organisations.

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  • UK Major Infrastructure Programme: Initial Workshop Opportunities and Demands on The Archaeological Sector

    UK Major Infrastructure Programme: Initial Workshop Opportunities and Demands on The Archaeological Sector

    FAME has met with members of the Thames Tideway Tunnel project to discuss the demands on the Archaeological Sector. Our questions and feedback can be found in this letter:

    2014-07-21-Thames-Tideway-TunnelDownload

  • New CEO for FAME

    FAME CEO Adrian Tindall is stepping down after nearly five years in the role. He will be succeeded by Malcolm Cooper, formerly Regional Director with English Heritage and Chief Inspector with Historic Scotland.

    Adrian said of his role at FAME “It’s been a hugely rewarding time, during which I feel FAME has moved forward significantly and, I hope, become increasingly influential within the sector and beyond. I should like to thank the Chair and Board members for their support, and of course the wider FAME membership for their encouragement, stimulating ideas and enjoyable company.

    “I wish FAME all the very best for the future, in the sure knowledge that it is stronger than ever and in very capable hands”.

    He will continue to work with his own consultancy, Archaeological Risk Management.

  • FAME Response to CDM 2015

    FAME Response to CDM 2015

    FAME has responded to the HSE consultation on the review of the CDM Regulations. There was a deep division of opinion among members about the proposal to exempt ‘pre-construction archaeological investigations’ from the revised regulations.

    Those in favour argued that CDM should not be triggered unnecessarily by pre-construction investigative work, and that exemption would provide greater clarity over the vexed question of archaeologists as Principal Contractors. Those against were concerned that exemption would marginalise archaeology from the construction process and potentially jeopardise health and safety.

    We have eventually decided to support the proposal in principle, with the caveats that a clear definition of ‘pre-construction’ is required, and that archaeology should be cited alongside other pre-construction investigative works within the regulations.

    We would like to see a clear statement that archaeological work during, or directly associated with, construction will fall within the regulations, and that in these circumstances archaeological organisations should be appointed as Specialist Contractors but not as Principal Contractors. We would also like to see greater clarity on health & safety training and accreditation, and on how archaeological documentation is included as part of the CDM design process, and would welcome the preparation of sectoral guidance on the regulations.

    The full FAME response is here.

    For those wishing to submit their own response, visit the HSE website.

  • FAME Forum 2014: Remodelling the Market

    This year’s FAME Forum will focus on design and value in development-led archaeology.

    Development-led archaeology is a relatively young profession. During its formative years it has competed immaturely, driving prices down and undermining its perceived value to its clients.

    The current market is largely a product of our own making, in which all parts of the profession – national agencies, local government, commercial and university-based practices, not-for-profit and charitable organizations – are complicit.

    This year’s FAME Forum will bring together practitioners from both archaeology and related sectors, to ask

    • How can the market move from crude price-driven competition to more mature procurement, based on quality, outcome and enhanced value? 
    • What we can we learn from kindred professions about design, quality and value in a commercial marketplace? 
    • Are we in step with new strategies and digital developments in the construction sector? 
    • How can we design quality and innovation into archaeological work on major infrastructure projects? 
    • How will the priorities of new national heritage agencies affect the quality of archaeological practice? 
    • What will be the impact of IfA Chartership on the quality of archaeological practice in the UK? 

    Speakers will include John Eynon of Open Water Consulting on Building Information Modelling, John Orrell of DLA Design Group on the RIBA Plan of Work, Jay Carver of Crossrail on project design in infrastructure archaeology, Steve Trow of English Heritage on the English Heritage New Model, and Peter Hinton of the IfA on the Royal Charter.

    The Forum will take place in York, on Friday 27 June – this year for the first time in the spectacular setting of the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, one of the finest medieval guildhalls in the country.

    The Forum is supported by York Archaeological Trust, and admission to the Forum provides free entry to the Trust’s many visitor attractions, including Jorvik Viking Centre, DIG York, Dig Hungate, Barley Hall, Monk Bar and Micklegate Bar, throughout the weekend.

    Admission to the Forum is free to FAME members and £75 to non-members, including lunch, morning coffee and afternoon tea.

    If you apply to join FAME, you will be entitled to free admission – an immediate saving of up to £150.

    We are expecting a high demand for tickets, so advance booking is essential.

    Click here for the programme and booking form

  • CDM 2014 to exclude pre-construction archaeology?

    CDM 2014 to exclude pre-construction archaeology?

    A new consultation by HSE proposes that pre-construction archaeological work will be excluded from the new CDM Regulations.

    The 10-week consultation on proposals to replace the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007, launched yesterday, states that “the definition of construction work is substantially unchanged from CDM 2007, except for clarification that it does not include pre-construction archaeological investigations” (33). This is reiterated in the Interpretation (regulation 2(1)) and Explanatory Note 3(c) of the Consultation Draft Regulations. The full consultation document may be viewed here and on the HSE website.

    This proposal reflects the outcome of discussions with HSE over the past four years, led since November 2012 by the FAME Health & Safety Working Group, and was first announced by HSE at last year’s FAME Forum.

    FAME will of course be responding to the consultation through its Health and Safety Working Group, and any comments on the proposals should be sent to its convenor, Andrew Townsend.

  • FAME News 15: Spring 2014

    As we develop FAME’s agenda and influence, the capacity of our CEO and elected Board members is becoming increasingly stretched, and so responsibilities have been divided up between different members of the Board. The list of consultations to which we’ve been asked to respond has been impressive – including HSE’s proposed revision of the CDM Regulations, IFA’s Standards and guidance and Client Guide, the English Heritage New Model, threatened cut-backs to local government planning archaeologists and HERs, and the government review of The Future of Local Government Archaeology Services.

    Read more

  • FAME Forum 2014: Peter Hinton on the IfA Royal Charter

    We’re delighted to announce that Peter Hinton has agreed to speak at this year’s FAME Forum on design and value.

    Peter will of course be well known to our members as Chief Executive of the Institute for Archaeologists, and he will speak on the implications of the IfA Royal Charter for both its members and their clients.

    Other speakers at the Forum will be John Orrell, Director of the DLA Design Group, on the RIBA Plan of Work, John Eynon, of Open Water Consulting on BIM, Jay Carver, Crossrail Project Archaeologist on project design on infrastructure projects, and Stephen Trow, English Heritage Protection Director on the EH New Model.

    This year’s forum will take place on Friday, 27 June, in the magnificent setting of the Merchant Adventurers Hall, York. 

    Tickets (free to FAME members, £75 to non-members) will be available soon.

  • FAME Forum 2014: John Orrell on the RIBA Plan of Work

    We’re delighted to announce that John Orrell has agreed to speak at this year’s FAME Forum on design and value.

    John is Director of the DLA Design Group, a RIBA Design Award Assessor and a member of the review group which published the new RIBA Plan of Work in 2013.

    Other speakers include John Eynon, of Open Water Consulting on BIM, Jay Carver, Crossrail Project Archaeologist on project design on infrastructure projects, and Stephen Trow, English Heritage Protection Director on the EH New Model.

    This year’s forum will take place on Friday, 27 June, in the magnificent setting of the Merchant Adventurers Hall, York.