Call for Tenders: UK Heritage and Conservation Science Labour Survey
The Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science (RICHeS), on behalf of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), is inviting bids for a UK-wide labour survey to examine the heritage and conservation science workforce.
Heritage and conservation science includes scientific and technological work that supports the care, understanding and interpretation of heritage assets from objects and buildings to landscapes and historic environments. RICHeS seeks to gather evidence to better understand the heritage and conservation science workforce, the sector’s composition and the current labour market challenges and opportunities.
This survey will build a comprehensive picture of the sector, exploring who works in it, where they work, the skills they possess, and the factors shaping workforce sustainability now and in the future.
About the survey
The heritage sector is a cornerstone of the UK’s economy and cultural identity. In England alone, it supports more than 200,000 direct jobs and contributes an estimated £44.9 billion in gross value added (GVA). Heritage and conservation science underpins this success by ensuring that heritage assets are safe to display, handle and interact with, both now and for future generations.
A failure to invest sustainably in heritage science risks:
- Loss of cultural assets through deterioration
- Negative economic impact on a sector that drives tourism, education and the creative industries
- Reduced global competitiveness in research and innovation
This evidence-based labour survey will provide a clearer understanding of the heritage and conservation science workforce, including workforce demographics, training and qualification pathways, pay and job security, digital skills and AI, and the challenges of maintaining or strengthening workforce capacity.
The findings will deliver robust insight into workforce capacity, capability, inequalities and future needs, helping to ensure the sector remains resilient and equipped to respond to emerging challenges.
What we are looking for
RICHeS is seeking a supplier to design and deliver a mixed-method labour survey, comprising of:
- A statistically representative quantitative survey
- Targeted qualitative research, where appropriate (for example, interviews or focus groups)
- Clear analysis and insight on workforce capacity, capability, skills and inequalities
- Contextualisation with existing UK labour market data
The research should capture evidence from a broad and diverse range of organisations and individuals working in heritage and conservation science across the UK.
Contract details
- Budget: Up to £100,000 excluding VAT
- Estimated dates: 11 March 2026 to 28 December 2026. Possible extension to 11 January 2027.
- Key deliverables: Project plan, quantitative survey launch, interim report, draft final report and final report.
The final report will be publicly available and will support RICHeS and AHRC in shaping future strategy, while also providing valuable evidence for the wider heritage sector.
How to apply
Full tender documentation, submission guidance and deadlines are available through the UKRI procurement portal.
We welcome proposals from organisations or consortia with the expertise to deliver high-quality research of national importance.