Join the Board and help take responsibility for organising the Trust’s unique Practical Trade Training free to students at West Suffolk College Built Environment Campus.

Building Conservation Training Course appointment of voluntary Joint Course Organiser (JCO)

Appointment of voluntary Joint Course Organiser (JCO)

On the retirement of our current Course Organiser, BTT seeks a voluntary Joint Course Organiser (JCO) for the building trade training course that it runs at West Suffolk College, Built Environment Campus (Milburn Centre).

The Course

BTT’s course, which is unique in England, has been running since 2013. BTT’s relationship with the College is defined in a Memorandum of understanding which is updated annually. A full description of the course that explains its history, and the free training that it provides for building trade students at the College, including the current academic year’s (2024/25) programme, to be found on the Trust’s website: burystedmundstowntrust.org.uk/education

The Role of Joint Course Organiser (JCO)

As can be seen from the website the course is divided into two parts. Practical Trade Training (PTT) and the Construction of a Prototype of Design (PoD). The appointee will be responsible for:

  • Organising the PTT element of the course. The PoD element is run by BTT Trustee Emmerson Critchley who will liaise with the appointee and be pleased to help as required.
  • Defining and agreeing the annual PTT course programme with the West Suffolk. College (WSC). This involves holding on average two meetings a year with the relevant College Vice-Principal and its Head of Construction to discuss relevant matters and having direct access to the other relevant College staff.
  • Contacting the relevant organisations and individuals that run the events/courses to agree content and fix appropriate dates, to confirm the dates with WSC, and to agree costs where charges are made.
  • Reporting on progress at BTT Board meetings.

Help, support and detailed information about each of the current course elements will be provided by BTT. The appointee will have the opportunity to attend the arranged courses. The amount of time required of the appointee will vary depending on the many factors associated with organising courses/trips, a few hours per week during term time would be a likely average.

Membership of BTT and its Board

The successful appointee will be required to become a member of BTT and will be appointed to the Trust’s Board. The Trust is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status. For full details about the Trust see our website. The Board meets bi-monthly on Tuesdays at 17.00hrs in Bury St Edmunds.

The future

BTT is committed to building on the course that it has been running for over a decade. It has recently been involved in discussions with a national body about extending the course in England. Unfortunately, this fell through due to changes in the body including staff and budget cuts. The Trust’s aim is for its course to act as an exemplar which leads to it becoming part of the national curriculum for colleges that run building trade training. The Trust will be seeking to find and work with alternative national bodies that actively seek to champion course expansion. If desired the successful appointee will be able to play a significant role in this important process.

Contact for further information

Jonathan Lloyd
Chair BTT
Email: jonathan@hazells.co.uk
Tel: 01284 702626

BTT Joint Course Organiser Role