Headlines

Record Levels of Commercial Investment and Employment for Archaeologists in the UK.

Summary

The latest Archaeological Market Survey report is now available.

Key Findings

  • £239m investment in the economy through applied archaeology
  • In financial year 2017-18 the sector grew in terms of the number of employees , financial turnover,and profit levels.
  • 6,812 people were employed as professional archaeologists in 2017-18 more than have ever been before, with 13% from the EU
  • The majority of businesses in the sector expected to expand significantly in the next year (2018-19) (e.g. in premises, vehicles, capital equipment)
  • The overwhelming majority of income came from private sector clients (83%, a slight increase from 81% in 2016-17) with residential housing as the biggest sector, but infrastructure projects were also important.
  • Much of this investment is dependent on the planning process having access to expert archaeological advice
  • East Anglia and the East Midlands were identified as the most prolific regions for archaeological investment as part of development
  • Despite this, the sector’s confidence in the future of the market was declining, and had been since 2015
  • Brexit and the under-resourcing of local government planning advice were still considered to be major concerns for the sector

You can download the full report at www.archaeologists.net/profession/profiling

Providing a unique analysis of the archaeological sector as part of the overall UK economy, the report is based on survey responses from FAME members and CIfA Registered Organisations.

The report was produced by Landward Research on behalf of Historic England, the Federation of Archaeological Managers and Employers (FAME) and the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA).

Press release

Date

13 March 2019

Issued by

Rob Lennox, Policy Advisor, CIfA

rob.lennox@archaeologists.net

Note on the organisations

The Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) is the leading professional body representing archaeologists working in the UK and overseas. CIfA promotes high professional standards and strong ethics in archaeological practice, to maximise the benefits that archaeologists bring to society, and provides a self-regulatory quality assurance framework for the sector and those it serves.

CIfA has over 3,700 members and over 80 registered practices across the United Kingdom. Its members work in all branches of the discipline: heritage management, planning advice, excavation, finds and environmental study, buildings recording, underwater and aerial archaeology, museums, conservation, survey, research and development, teaching and liaison with the community, industry and the commercial and financial sectors.

The Federation of Archaeological Managers and Employers (FAME) is the distinctive voice of archaeological employers and managers, and the only organisation solely devoted to representing their interests within the profession and the business world.FAME represents one in three archaeological practitioners, employing the majority of archaeologists across the UK. Its membership includes over 50 archaeological practices, from small consultancies to all the largest contractors, from educational charities, commercial companies, universities and local authorities across England, Scotland,Wales and Ireland. In addition to representing its members’ interests in matters of policy, its aims are to foster an understanding of archaeology across the construction and development sector and promote best professional practice, training and development, and a safe and healthy work environment. https://famearchaeology.co.uk/

Enquiries about this press release please contact:

  1. +44 (0) 118 966 2841

kate.geary@archaeologists.net