CarringtonLIME
Leading Experts in Heritage Skills Training
CarringtonLIME Heritage Skills C.I.C was established in 2020 as a Community Interest Company in response to the national shortage of Heritage Building Skills. We are now the largest provider of lime courses in the UK, running courses throughout the year in our dedicated, heated training centre. We are the only course provider that offer progressive courses that take students from complete beginner all the way to professional with formal qualifications.
​Ours aims and objectives:
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Promote the use of traditional and natural materials and methods nationally
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Make training accessible to all
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Up skill tradespeople to be able to confidently work on older properties
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Empower homeowners living in dilapidated older properties to have the knowledge and skills to tackle projects themselves or be able to confidently appoint suitable tradespeople
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Improve local housing stock in particular in The Forest of Dean where we are based
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Educate the next generation of builders in the use of natural and traditional materials and methods of building.
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We carry out these objectives in the follow ways:​
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Offer subsidised Heritage Skills course places to tradespeople looking to upskill
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Build relationships with local construction colleges and construction companies with the view to promoting the use of natural materials in both retrofits and new builds.
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Working with local heritage sites to provide work experience opportunities and raise awareness of heritage skills
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Our work is funded predominantly by:
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Course fees
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Small Grants
Meet The Team
Ben Kerslake
With 25 years’ experience in conservation and restoration, Ben is a Master Plasterer with an MSc in Architecture (Advanced Environmental & Energy Studies).
Specialising in lime work, he also brings expertise in rendering, plastering, stonework, woodworking, and damp consultation.
A 2023 Mentor of the Year award winner, Ben also holds teaching and assessment qualifications and serves on the SPAB Technical Committee.
Kate Kerslake
Kate developed her passion for traditional, high-quality workmanship while renovating her own home, where poor repairs led to escalating costs and endless delays. Meeting Ben showed her that good craftsmanship should be the standard, not the exception.
Now with 13 years’ experience in the heritage industry, Kate teaches marketing and business skills on the Professional Programme. She is also a qualified Domestic Energy Assessor and Retrofit Assessor, bringing valuable expertise in building performance and sustainability.
Tom Fowler
Tom is an experienced lime plasterer with over 15 years in the trade, bringing a strong practical understanding of traditional building techniques to his work. Currently part of the Train the Trainer programme, he is being mentored by Ben as he develops his skills as a future heritage tutor.
Alongside his plastering expertise, Tom is also highly experienced in carpentry and is currently putting his skills to the test by building his own home.
Funded by:
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