West Dean College has announced a new two-year Foundation Degree* for students to develop craft skills in conservation, restoration and heritage making. The new FdA Historic Craft Practices means that students can specialise in Clocks, Furniture or Musical Instruments and combine their interest in heritage with practical hands-on skills development. The course, which offers an alternative to the traditional University route to a career, balances practical and academic skills and includes a period of work placement.

"The arts and crafts underpin the UK's world-leading creative industries sector, which is worth £71.4 billion a year," says Francine Norris, Director of Education. "According to figures the craft sector alone currently employs over 100,000 people while with growth of 10 per cent, the creative sector is outstripping all other industry sectors in terms of recovery."

On successful completion of the course students will be able to work in a range of heritage craft contexts, as designer-makers or within antiques restoration or heritage conservation. The Foundation Degree will offer a recognised qualification. For those wishing to undertake further study, the course prepares students to progress to a specialist Graduate Diploma at West Dean or other Level 6 qualification such as the final year of a BA degree.