Construction students at the College of West Anglia gained hands-on experience in traditional heritage construction techniques during a specialist Heritage Taster Day delivered in partnership with conservation experts from Messenger Construction.

Held at the College’s King’s Lynn campus, the event introduced students to a range of specialist skills linked to heritage and conservation work, helping them explore career opportunities beyond traditional construction pathways.

Throughout the day, students took part in practical workshops covering hot lime demonstrations, stone masonry and consolidation, lime plastering, ornate plaster casting and specialist pointing finishes. Sessions were designed to give learners an insight into the materials and methods used in the restoration and preservation of historic buildings.

The taster day also highlighted how core skills developed through construction trades such as bricklaying and carpentry can transfer into specialist heritage sectors, where demand for skilled craftspeople continues to grow.

Sophie Norton, Head of Conservation at Messenger said, “Our aim for the taster day was to show students that the trowel skills learnt during their bricklaying and carpentry courses can buy them more than they think. These skills are transferrable to many different construction disciplines such as stone masonry, plastering and historic repairs. Further to this, so many properties within our current housing stock are historic and it is likely that some of these students will, at some point in their career, be asked to repair them. We have given them some awareness of specialist finishes to brickwork and how to match them.”

Jane Burton, Programme Manager for Construction and Plumbing at the College of West Anglia’s King’s Lynn campus said, “We were delighted to welcome Messenger into the College to give our students the opportunity to experience specialist heritage and conservation techniques first-hand. These practical sessions not only broadened learners’ understanding of the construction industry but also highlighted the importance of preserving traditional skills and the growing opportunities available within the heritage sector. Experiences like these are invaluable in helping students connect their classroom learning to real industry applications and future career pathways. The day formed part of the college’s ongoing commitment to providing students with industry-focused experiences and introducing learners to the wide range of opportunities available across the construction and heritage sectors.”