Heritage Consultant

Sheffield Historic Buildings Trust Tender Brief – Heritage Consultant

Sheffield Historic Buildings Trust is a new building preservation trust (BPT) for the city, registered as a charity in 2024. In common with the approximately 300 BPTs that are members of the UK Heritage Network, its mission is to rescue heritage at risk. The Trust has been set up in response to Joined-Up Heritage Sheffield (JUHS)’s Heritage Strategy for Sheffield 2021-31, whose Action Plan called for a BPT to be established for the city.

The Trust aims to acquire and repair vacant and neglected historic buildings and adapt them for viable new uses, for the benefit of the public. Acting as a developer of last resort, its projects will typically involve sites which have a ‘conservation deficit’ (where the cost of repairs exceeds the market value of the asset once repaired). The Trust is committed to delivering projects that will meet the highest conservation standards and, where possible, promote conservation skills training and education. It intends to achieve its objectives by working in partnership with a range of local stakeholders, including Sheffield City Council and voluntary and community sector groups.

The Brief

The Trustees wish to appoint an experienced Heritage Consultant to lead on the development of Sheffield Historic Buildings Trust as an effective building preservation trust for the city, establishing the charity as trusted partner for Sheffield City Council and other key stakeholders. This will involve working with SHBT Trustees to:

Ensure the Trust is ready to employ a Trust Manager, having relevant policies and procedures in place and being compliant with relevant legislation Recruit and mentor a part-time Trust Manager, who will be its first employee Identify and initiate the Trust’s first building conservation project, including seeking funding and working with external consultants to undertake viability appraisals Develop a fundraising strategy and outline business model Develop a stakeholder management plan Develop a communications and social media strategy, including commissioning and managing website designers Ensure Trustees have completed training on charity governance, financial and legislative requirements, where relevant – with appropriate training records kept

To fulfil the brief, the consultant will need to be a self-motivated, highly organised individual, able to deliver high quality work without close supervision and to bring enthusiasm and energy to the role. It is expected that they will be able to demonstrate some knowledge of the economic and social context within which they are working – Sheffield and its wider region. They will also be required to attend monthly Trustee meetings (which take place in the evening) and other in-person meetings and events in Sheffield when required.

By the end of the contract period, it is expected that the following will have been achieved:

A Trust Manager established in post and ready to work independently, to lead on the development of a heritage conservation project A fundraising strategy is in place and being implemented, with grant income received for both running costs and capital projects The Trust is well connected to both city-wide and national networks with a clear understanding of its partners and stakeholders The Trust has an excellent website and an active social media presence, guided by a clear communications strategy

Contract terms

We will offer a fixed fee of £400 per day, not including expenses and VAT. The appointment will be made by 30 June 2026. It is anticipated that the contract will run for approximately 58 days in total (equivalent to one to two days per week, taking into account holiday periods), to end by 30 June 2027. We can be flexible about working patterns and the contract end date – this will be subject to discussion and agreement with the chosen consultant.

Timeline

The procurement timetable will be: 30/04/2026 Brief for services issued 31/05/2026 Completed tenders to be returned w/c 08/06/2026 Interviews By 15/06/2026 Contract awarded w/c 22/06/2026 Inception meeting

Tender submissions

In terms of submitting a proposal for undertaking the work, this should include: Details of your core skills, experience, and competencies, in relation to the areas identified in this brief. Experience of working for a building preservation trust would be advantageous. Examples of at least two projects you have worked on, supported with references from clients. Details of availability to undertake work distributed across the project period. Evidence that professional indemnity insurance and public liability insurance are in place. Details of how you would fulfil the project brief, including an estimate of how many days’ time would be allocated to each piece of work.

The selection criteria will include: Extent to which the tender demonstrates an understanding of the brief. Previous experience of delivering similar briefs, in a relevant field. Overall quality of the submission. Availability to deliver within the timeframe.

Contact details Craig Broadwith, Trustee, Sheffield Historic Buildings Trust Email: sheffieldhbt@gmail.com by 31 May 2026