“A unique opportunity to combine a love of historic buildings, travel and meeting new people” – Tríona Byrne, engineer and 2016 SPAB Scholar
The search is on for up to four architects, building surveyors or engineers to become part of the SPAB (Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) Lethaby Scholarship 2019. This is a training opportunity like no other. After completing the nine-month programme, previous SPAB Scholars have gone on to become experts in their field – some are cathedral architects, some look after palaces, National Trust houses and English Heritage sites.
The Scholarship is open to architects, building surveyors and structural engineers who have completed the college-based part of their courses (e.g. RIBA Parts I & II for architects), ideally with two or three years work experience. The programme is organised and administered by the SPAB and will be of particular interest to early career professionals with a passion for historic building conservation.
Successful applicants will visit some of the country’s most fascinating built heritage projects to deepen their knowledge of historic buildings and explore the challenges surrounding their conservation. They aim to give their Scholars first-hand experience of conservative repair in action; they will be meeting professionals involved in the full range of building management issues, working on site and in workshops and studios throughout the UK. Scholars spend the first six months travelling from site to site together, in the last three months they study, together or apart, aspects of the nation’s country houses.
If shortlisted, all candidates must be willing to attend an interview in London at their own expense. Commitment to the Scholarship is full time, including some weekends, and it is impossible to combine it with any other form of study or employment. Candidates should be aware that there will be long periods spent away from home. The programme runs from mid March to early December 2019. There are no course fees as training and administrative costs are covered by the SPAB. Successful candidates will each receive a bursary in the region of £8,500 toward their basic travel and living costs.
SPAB is inviting applications now for the 2019 Lethaby Scholarship. For further information or to obtain an application form, please visit their website (spab.org.uk/learning/scholarship) or email: education@spab.org.uk. The closing date for applications is 1 December 2018 and interviews will be held at 37 Spital Square, London in January 2019.
