Historic Buildings

Lock 16 - Scotland’s Centre of Excellence for Canals & Traditional Skills

The historic built environment sector faces a critical skills crisis, with an ageing workforce, outdated qualifications, limited regional access, and unsustainable funding models. Rising costs have stifled innovation and left much of Scotland without vital training to preserve heritage and support the transition to net zero. Lock 16 - Scotland’s Centre of Excellence for Canal & Traditional Skills will transform this landscape. The project will establish an accredited training hub, delivering an expanded range of skills training essential for maintaining Scotland’s built and canals heritage. It will also create a national network for developing and delivering heritage skills, ensuring accessibility and fostering innovation. This initiative will leave a lasting legacy: a sustainable, multi-generational system for skills development that preserves Scotland’s heritage, strengthens communities, and creates opportunities for diverse learners to engage in the future of traditional and canal-related skills.