A York conservation firm training up the next generation of expert craftspeople has thanked City of York Council for the business support that has helped it thrive.
Pinnacle Conservation, established by managing director Adam Hickey in 2019, now employs 58 staff, including nine apprentices, who are all paid the Real Living Wage as part of the company’s commitment to the Good Business Charter championed by the council.
It has completed work at a range of historic buildings and grounds across Yorkshire ranging from Castle Howard and York Minster to smaller buildings like the former Cath Kidston shop at 32 Stonegate, which is now home to Fabrication.
The team’s most recent project has been working at 60 Goodramgate owned by York Conservation Trust. Built in 1790 as a three-storey brick house, it was originally part of Lady Row, a row of housing in front of Holy Trinity Church dating back to 1316 and the earliest example of its kind in York. During the work at 60 Goodramgate:
- Syrian-born Hibatullah Ali, on a six-month placement funded by Historic England, has been using specially-mixed lime-based paint on the narrow staircase walls, alongside her line manager Valerio Caputi, whose early career in Italy included working on St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, then completed a Masters Apprenticeship supported by Pinnacle.
- On the upper floor, Joe Thompson, who swapped A levels for a career in construction, has been working on a kitchen area for the new tenants of the building, learning skills from experienced joiner Kelly Mutton. Joe hopes to take up an apprenticeship with Pinnacle soon.
Adam said he had deliberately made the decision to directly employ staff rather than using sub-contractors so he could invest in apprentices and building skills for the future, both for his company and for the city and wider area.
And support from Louise Saw, from City of York Council’s Economic Growth team, meant he had the knowledge and confidence to make his vision a reality. This support included:
- Guidance on tendering through the Innovate York programme, delivered by the University of York
- Andrea Morrison coaching on leadership, funded from the Leadership Excellence and Development Programme from the York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub
- membership of the Good Business Charter.
Adam said:
When we started, we had some really experienced craftspeople, some with 40+ years’ experience, but I knew they were mostly going to hang up their boots up in five to ten years’ time. I saw that if we didn’t invest in the next generation, skills were going to be lost and without directly-employed staff you can’t train up apprentices. We employed apprentices almost from day one and my most proud achievement has been people coming up through the apprenticeship system.
“It’s has been incredible the support I’ve had from City of York Council over the years. Sometimes you feel lonely when you’re running your own business and to have that support in place has been great. I’ve had a lot of help and Louise has been instrumental in pointing me in direction for so many programmes.”
Councillor Pete Kilbane, Executive Member for Economy and Culture, said:
“It’s a great privilege for us to work with companies like Pinnacle who do such fantastic work to restore and maintain our fine historic buildings and I am delighted we’ve been able to offer them key business support. It’s great to see the opportunities they are giving our young people to learn the specialist skills and crafts which are so important to the future of the city.”
- York businesses who would like to access free support from City of York Council should email economicgrowth@york.gov.uk or go to Support for businesses – City of York Council
- Young people can find out more about apprenticeships at: Apprenticeships in York – City of York Council
- The Innovate York programme is funded from the City of York Council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocation