This year’s FAME Forum will be held in association with the Archaeology Training Forum, and will bring together speakers from across the sector to discuss skills and employability in UK archaeology. Papers include (more…)
Author: Doug Rocks-Macqueen
-
Fit for Purpose? Skills and employability in UK archaeology
This year’s FAME Forum will consider the issue of skills and employability in UK archaeology. A university degree has long been considered an essential requirement for a career in archaeology. However, there seems to be a growing gulf between what our universities provide and what archaeological employers need.
Rising tuition fees and competition among providers have led to a growing emphasis on employability, but research shows that the fieldwork component of university degrees – never high – is declining still further.
- How can we persuade the next generation that a career in archaeology is not just personally fulfilling but financially viable?
- Is it the job of our universities to produce employable archaeologists? And if not, what can employers offer to develop these skills?
- Can hard-pressed employers afford to provide structured work-based training?
- Can they afford not to – and risk creating a generation of field archaeologists disengaged from the analytical process?
- What can we learn from the work-based training provided by fellow employers?
Held in association with the Archaeology Training Forum, the Forum will bring together practitioners to discuss what we can do, both to attract new entrants to the profession and to develop and retain those we already have. Speakers will include Anthony Sinclair, Dominic Perring, Chiz Harward, Robin Turner, Andrew Marvell and Peter Connelly.
The meeting will take place on Friday, 13 July, at Merchant Taylors Hall, York. Admission is free to FAME and ATF members and £50 to non-members, including lunch, morning coffee and afternoon tea. Advance booking is essential – click here for further details and a booking form.
The Forum is supported by York Archaeological Trust, and admission to the Forum includes free entry to the Trust’s visitor attractions Jorvik Viking Centre, DIG York, Dig Hungate, Barley Hall and Micklegate Bar throughout the weekend.
-
FAME responds to the National Planning Policy Framework
FAME has broadly welcomed the new National Planning Policy Framework, published yesterday.
FAME welcomes the objectives of the new National Planning Policy Framework in delivering sustainable development while simplifying and streamlining the planning process.
We welcome the integration of the historic environment into the overall framework for national planning, and the inclusion of the conservation of heritage assets as one of the core principles of planning. This will in our view provide greater clarity for clients and applicants, and clearer guidance to local authorities on their obligations in decision-taking affecting the historic environment.
We welcome the obligation on local planning authorities to include strategic policies in local plans to deliver conservation and enhancement of the historic environment, to require applicants to provide assessments of significance in determining applications, and to seek opportunities where possible for the enhancement and better understanding of heritage assets.
We also welcome the obligation on them to maintain or have access to an up-to-date Historic Environment Record. However, it is essential that such records are supported by the necessary specialist expertise, and we will continue to press for the maintenance of such expertise wherever it comes under threat.
We remain concerned at the overemphasis in the document on designated heritage assets, at the potential expense of those non-designated heritage assets which make up the greater part of the historic environment.
We welcome its recognition of the importance of recording and making publicly accessible archaeological information revealed by development, and look forward to working in partnership with local government to deliver these objectives in the future. We also look forward to a clearer definition of expert investigation, and recognition of the need for such investigation to be carried out by suitably-qualified archaeological organisations to nationally-agreed standards.
Responses to the NPPF have also been issued by the CBA, The Heritage Alliance, IfA and Rescue.
-
FAME News 8: Spring 2012
The FAME Spring newsletter is now out, with news of this year’s Forum, updates on the archaeological archives survey, a roundup of our recent work in advocacy and research, and other news for members. It can be viewed here.
-
Undeposited archives: we need your responses
FAME is participating in a new project to assess the extent and usage of undeposited archaeological archives across the UK.
Evaluating the archaeological resource in store – informing the future is a project commissioned by English Heritage and the Society of Museum Archaeologists to explore a range of issues relating to archaeological archives. It aims to gather information both on the current situation and on the future of collection, storage and the provision of expertise. Further details of the project can be found here.
Over recent years FAME members have expressed a number of concerns relating to archaeological archives, especially the growing problem of completed archives that cannot be deposited. FAME has therefore given its support to the project, and has agreed to gather information on the quantity and nature of archives held by archaeological practices that are completed but cannot be deposited because there is no store or museum able or willing to accept them.
We are extending the survey to all archaeological practices in England, Scotland and Wales, and urge you to participate, so that we can build up the fullest and most accurate possible picture of the present situation across the UK. Only by gathering this information can we make a robust case for improved provision in the future.
You can complete the survey by clicking here. If you wish to preview the survey and complete it at a later date, close the page afterwards rather than clicking the ‘done’ button (as clicking this will submit your response).
All respondents will be entered into a prize draw for an Amazon Gift Voucher.
The closing date for responses is 31 March.
-
Join FAME and get two months free membership!
Thinking of joining FAME? We’re offering new members a great deal – join before 21 April and you’ll get two months free membership – a saving of £50!
FAME is the voice of archaeological business in the UK.
FAME represents archaeological businesses throughout the UK, whether commercial consultancies and practices, local authorities, universities or charitable trusts.
We support our members by
- Voicing their concerns on national issues
- Providing advice, support and information
- Contributing to national forums, committees and alliances
- Responding to national policy consultations
- Liaising with key partners such as ALGAO, CBA and IfA
- Collating market data in partnership with IfA
- Contributing to IfA Standards and Guidance
- Promoting training and professional development
- Publishing a Health and Safety Manual and safety updates
- Collating national health and safety data
- Hosting annual networking events
- Publishing regular newsletters and employment updates
To find out more, email info@famearchaeology.co.uk.
-
Archaeological archives: joint FAME, SMA and ALGAO Statement of Intent
Following our joint meeting on undeposited archaeological archives with the Society of Museum Archaeologists, we have agreed with SMA and ALGAO a joint Statement of Intent to begin to address the issue.
Trouble in Store: facing up to the archives crisis
The next steps
FAME and the Society of Museum Archaeologists (SMA) held a successful joint meeting in July 2011 entitled Trouble in Store: facing up to the archives crisis. With speakers from FAME, the SMA, ALGAO, English Heritage and the Archaeology Data Service, it was clear that there were many common issues to all parties relating to archaeological archives arising principally from developer-funded projects.
At the forefront was the issue of archives that cannot be deposited because there is no suitable museum or store. Other significant issues included the absence of data on museum storage capacity, the number of undeposited archives, and who does or does not use which archives for what purpose. Wider issues included the content of archives, the management of digital data and ownership of the process of archive preparation and deposition within a planning context.
The joint meeting was successful, as a first step, in underlining the seriousness of the situation and in agreeing that many of the issues need to be addressed with some urgency.
The next step is to decide on a way forward and a pathway to identifying acceptable solutions. This note sets out some broad principles and provides a ‘statement of intent’.
FAME, the SMA and ALGAO have agreed the following objectives:
1. To support fully the SMA’s Evaluating the archaeological resource in store – informing the future survey and will encourage all their members to contribute to it, engage with it, and take on board its recommendations
2. To work with the AAF to support the updating of existing guidance on the processes, preparation and content of archaeological archives that embraces all elements of the archive
3. To encourage, support and publicise initiatives that explore or pilot justifiable, co-ordinated, collaborative and accountable selection and retention policies on archaeological projects and work towards practical guidance for curators and archaeological practices
4. To promote and encourage improved communication and liaison between museum professionals, local authority historic environment advisors and archaeological practices
5. To provide collective and individual support to local authorities, museums or other appropriate organisations that seek to fund and create Archaeological Resource Centres
6. To achieve within a reasonable timeframe an agreed policy statement on the management of archives that cannot be deposited because there is no appropriate museum or store
Society of Museum Archaeologists 
December 2011
-
A new heritage organisation for Suffolk: Public consultation
FAME has responded to the public consultation about a new heritage organisation for Suffolk:
-
New survey shows archaeological market still subdued
The first State of the Archaeological Market survey shows a slight increase in the numbers employed in development-led archaeology in the past six months, though still significantly down on the July 2007 peak. Staff turnover was relatively low, with more staff moving between archaeological employers than leaving the profession. Employment contracts remained largely unchanged, but salaries fell in real terms. Average turnover last financial year was slightly up to around £1.2m, with a similar level projected for the current year, mostly through assessments, fieldwork and post-fieldwork analysis. However, profit margins were mainly below 5% and business confidence remains low. Many businesses have established subsidiary offices around the UK, though few plan expansion over the next twelve months. Fieldwork and post-fieldwork skills continue to be lost, and with conservation skills are those most likely to be bought in.
The new twice-yearly survey, carried out by Landward Research Ltd on behalf of FAME and the IfA, covers the period April-September 2011. It includes data from the EH/ALGAO/IHBC August 2011 report on local government staff resources, but does not take into account job losses in other areas of the sector, such as national heritage agencies, universities or museums. In the 68% of the sector for which we know the data, we have seen the deepest and longest cut in the number of archaeologists since records began.
The survey builds on the economic analysis carried out by the London School of Economics for the Southport Group, and replaces the quarterly Job Losses survey, which some FAME members found too narrow in scope.
The response rate was around 50%, with some respondents reluctant to release financial information, even though the results were anonymised. This is the first real attempt to assess the scope of the UK archaeological market, and FAME members are urged to contribute to its success by suggesting improvements to the survey and taking time to respond as fully as possible to the next one in April 2012.
The full report may be viewed here.
-
FAME responds to draft National Planning Policy Framework
FAME has responded to the draft National Planning Policy Framework by welcoming its objective of delivering sustainable development, but expressing concerns about its degree of protection for undesignated assets, its lack of clarity about the development management process, and its lack of emphasis on the need for specialist expertise.
Dear Sir
Draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)
I am writing to you on behalf of the Federation of Archaeological Managers and Employers (FAME), which represents around 50 businesses providing archaeological services to commercial clients in the development industry throughout the UK.
We welcome the NPPF objective of delivering sustainable development, and acknowledge its intention to simplify and streamline the planning process whilst preserving the highly-effective policies and principles set out in Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment.
We welcome its recognition (Paras 177 and 191) of the importance of recording information revealed by development in advancing knowledge and understanding of the past, and of making the results of such work publicly accessible.
However we do have some concerns about the NPPF as currently drafted.
Firstly, we feel it places undue emphasis (Paras 183-4) on those designated heritage assets which enjoy statutory protection under existing consent regimes, at the expense of the 95% of heritage assets which are undesignated and depend upon a robust and proportionate planning process for their safeguarding and management. In our view it is these non-statutory undesignated assets that most require strong and unequivocal guidance on assessing their significance and setting and in securing their management through the neighbourhood planning process. The ‘balanced judgement’ advocated in Para 185 represents in our view a weakening of the protection afforded to undesignated heritage assets, as a material consideration in determining applications, currently afforded by PPS5 Policy HE8.1.
Secondly, it does not in our view set out as clearly as did PPS5 (or indeed PPG16 before it) the process by which planning decisions affecting undesignated heritage assets are reached. The well-established and effective sequence of pre-application consultation and appraisal, pre-determination assessment and evaluation and post-determination investigation and recording, so clearly set out in previous guidance, is not as clearly signposted in the draft framework. In our view it is vital for our clients that they fully understand the decision-making process, in order both to identify any likely risks to development at the earliest possible stage and to manage them through design solutions or mitigation measures.
Thirdly, whilst making passing reference (176, 178) to the value of the historic environment, we feel that the draft framework significantly understates its potential contribution to place-shaping, regeneration and, indeed, to sustainable growth.
Fourthly, whilst we welcome its recognition of the need for local planning authorities to have access to accurate and up-to-date historic environment records (37), such a requirement is of little value without the necessary specialist expertise to implement it. The NPPF should make specific reference to the need for access to such specialist advice in neighbourhood planning and development management, similar to that provided by PPS5 Policy HE7.1 (vi). It should also include a clear statement of the need for development-led archaeological investigation to be carried out by suitably-qualified archaeological organisations to nationally-agreed standards.
Finally, the NPPF will need to be underpinned by clear and detailed guidance, so that planners, practitioners and local communities can interpret the policies set out in it, and practical methodologies may be agreed for its effective day-to-day implementation.
Yours sincerely
Adrian Tindall MA FSA MIfA
Chief Executive, Federation of Archaeological Managers and Employers