In September 2015, 12 budding archaeologists began their NVQ level 3 in Archaeological Practice and we’re very proud to announce that 10 of them have passed, with a considerable number now having gained employment within the industry.
The traineeship was a MOLA initiative helped by Tower Hamlets Council to formally train people who were not in education, employment or training. The participants were from a range of backgrounds with diverse educational qualifications, and the hands-on learning experience trained them to become archaeologists as an alternative to a degree. The course was tailored to the demands of the archaeology industry and provided students with the vital and desirable skills needed work in the industry.
As part of the training we provided, they excavated the remains of a 19th century school in Allen Gardens in the community of Tower Hamlets, recorded the medieval Parish Church of St Dunstan’s as well as working on commercial archaeological excavations such as Sugar Quay.
Josh Frost who took part in the training and received his certificate this year said:
“Getting a professional qualification in archaeology opened up a lot of opportunites for me. The traineeship provided me with the skills and knowledge needed for the position I’m in now. As Tideway Senior Community Archaeologist for the Thames Discovery Programme, I work on one of the UK’s most successful long term community archaeology projects which leads efforts to record the largest archaeological sites in the UK - the Thames foreshore.”
