When we took on the farmhouse, we couldn't wait to get started. We had so many ideas and plans for restoring the building, but before any of those exciting projects could begin, we had one very unexpected job to tackle. Bats. During the surveys carried out before we signed the lease, evidence of bats was discovered in the farmhouse. If you've ever heard someone mention bats and building work in the same sentence, you'll probably know the reputation they have. We immediately t

We have recently taken on the long-term lease of an incredible traditional property right in the heart of the Forest of Dean. The site has stood empty for almost a decade, and we can't wait to breathe new life into it. Expanding Our Training Opportunities This new space gives us the opportunity to expand our classrooms and workshops. We aim to develop our training across heritage skills, land management, wildlife, and conservation. Most importantly, it allows our students to

Upskill in Lime Plastering, Lime Mortar and Traditional Building Skills Working with lime is no longer just for a select few specialists. Today, lime is specified across a wide range of projects. These include listed and heritage buildings, Passivhaus properties, eco-builds, and contemporary new-build homes. For many clients, lime is chosen for its health benefits and breathable properties. Others appreciate its sustainability and compatibility with traditional construction m

It's been another busy month of training for our Train the Trainer student, Tom. Alongside continuing to develop his classroom skills and technical knowledge, Tom has also completed Emergency First Aid at Work training. Having confidence in a wide range of situations is an important part of being a tutor. Knowing how to respond in an emergency helps create a safe learning environment for both staff and students. While we have never experienced any student injuries during our

This week Tom led his very first course with use - and absolutely smashed it. His delivery, confidence and insight were outstanding, and it really showed just how much is extensive industry experience brings tot he room. We're proud to provide training for people at all stages of their careers, including highly experienced heritage professionals. Tom, an experienced plasterer, is currently with us on our Train the Trainer programme, and watching him step into the lead trainer

We arrived at work this morning to a beautifully white car park – picture perfect! Sadly, there wasn’t quite enough time to build a snowman, as January for us is all about staff training and planning for the year ahead. This year, we’re delighted to have our new tutor, Tom, fully involved in that process. It’s been fantastic to hear his fresh ideas and thoughtful feedback as we continue to improve and refine what we offer. As part of Tom’s Train the Trainer programme, he ben

Recent headlines have drawn attention to the widespread failures associated with insulation installed under government-backed energy efficiency schemes. According to a National Audit Office (NAO) investigation, almost all external wall insulation fitted through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) and Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) requires repair or replacement. Of the approximately 23,000 homes that received external wall insulation, 98% were found to have defects re

August saw an exciting change for carringtonLIME as we welcomed our trainee tutor Tom to the team. Tom is an experienced lime plasterer and runs his own business, Three Counties Lime, based in the Malvern area. His work has taken him from restoring historic churches to renovating barns, giving him a wealth of practical expertise that he is eager to share with students. He has now embarked on our 12-month Train the Trainer programme, with the goal of progressing into a permane

Gloucestershire-based training provider carringtonLIME Heritage Skills Training CIC have been awarded a grant amount of £25,512 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to launch a ground breaking new ‘train the trainer’ programme that will help increase the heritage industries capacity. The recent Heritage Skills Needs Analysis produced by Historic England highlighted that an additional 105,000 full time employees will be needed to retrofit the UKs traditional buildings each ye

The Construction Workers Charitable Trust has chosen CarringtonLIME Heritage Skills Training C.I.C2 to be the recipient of its £20,000 Construction Employability Award 2024/25. CarringtonLIME, a Community Interest Company, based in Mitcheldean, runs heritage construction and skills training, predominantly in lime plastering. The award will enable the company to expand their fully funded national Heritage Plastering programme. The company is currently the only heritage trainin