Community Story: CarringtonLIME Heritage Skills Training CIC

In our second article focusing on a recent recipient of a grant from the Community Matters Fund (Future Skills) 2026 from National Grid, Luke Upton chats to Kate Kerslake from a truly fascinating CIC, CarringtonLIME Heritage Skills Training about their support for traditional skills, enjoying a particularly exciting year, the importance of grant funding and more.

Luke Upton (LU): Thanks for taking the time to speak with us today. To get us started, could you tell us a little about the origins of CarringtonLIME Heritage Skills Training CIC and how the organisation has developed its services and support for the community over the years?

Kate Kerslake (KK): Always happy to chat Luke. CarringtonLIME Heritage Skills Training CIC was established to tackle a growing problem within the heritage construction sector – the shortage of people with the practical skills needed to repair and maintain traditional buildings. We recognised that while there was plenty of interest in learning these skills, there were very few structured routes into the industry, particularly for complete beginners.

Over the last few years we've grown from delivering individual heritage skills courses into one of the UK's leading providers of lime plastering training. Today we offer everything from introductory courses through to fully funded career pathways, helping people gain practical experience, recognised qualifications and connections with employers.

As a Community Interest Company, our focus has always been on creating opportunities. Alongside our training, we've developed initiatives such as the Heritage Skills Exchange, which helps connect learners with employers and work experience opportunities. Everything we do is about giving people the confidence, skills and support they need to build rewarding careers while helping to protect our traditional buildings for future generations.

LU: Fantastic, what have you been focusing on lately?

KK: It's been an exciting year for us. We've been expanding our professional training programmes while also working on our biggest project to date – restoring a traditional Farmhouse in the Forest of Dean.  The farmhouse is being transformed into a dedicated Heritage Skills Training Centre where students will learn by working on a real historic building. Rather than practising in a workshop alone, they'll gain genuine site experience alongside experienced craftspeople, helping bridge the gap between training and employment.

Alongside this, we're strengthening partnerships with colleges, employers and industry organisations to create more work experience opportunities and clearer routes into heritage construction careers.

LU: Sounds fantastic. You’ve just received funding from the Community Matters Fund (Future Skills) 2026 from National Grid and Localgiving. Can you tell us some more about the project, what it will help fund and what it aims to deliver.

KK: We're absolutely delighted to have received this funding. The grant will allow us to deliver our Heritage Construction Work Experience Programme, a fully funded week-long course designed to help people take their first steps into the heritage construction industry.

Participants will receive practical training in lime plastering and traditional building techniques while developing the confidence, employability skills and understanding needed to work safely on historic buildings. They'll also gain a NOCN-endorsed certificate before joining our Heritage Skills Exchange, where they'll be connected with employers and future work experience opportunities.

The project is about much more than teaching practical skills. It's about removing barriers to employment and creating a genuine pathway into an industry that desperately needs new people and new talent. So a very big thank you to National Grid and Localgiving for supporting us with this funding.

LU: How important is this kind of grant funding to your organisation?

KK: Grant funding is absolutely vital for organisations like ours. It allows us to remove the financial barriers that prevent many people from accessing specialist training and gives us the opportunity to trial new programmes that respond directly to industry needs.

Without funding like from the Community Matters Fund (Future Skills) many of the people who benefit from our courses simply wouldn't be able to take part. Ultimately, this support helps us preserve traditional skills while creating meaningful employment opportunities. Thank you again!

LU: As we always like to ask our community members when we speak, more money aside, what would help you most?

KK: One of the biggest things that would help is stronger collaboration with employers. We're always keen to hear from contractors, conservation specialists and property owners who would be willing to support learners by offering site visits, work experience placements or mentoring. Those opportunities are often what turns training into employment.

LU: And before we finish, is there anything else you'd like to inform our readers about?

KK: We're looking forward to starting work at the Farmhouse. Once complete, it will provide a unique place where people can learn heritage skills by helping restore a real historic building, creating a lasting legacy for both the local community and the heritage sector.

LU: Brilliant, thanks for sharing your work with us, keep up the fantastic projects!

Learn more about CarringtonLIME Heritage Skills Training CIC here. 

For the latest on the Community Matters Fund click here. 

You may also be interested in: Community Story: The Leicester Tigers Foundation

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