Following our letters congratulating Ministers on their appointments and highlighting issues relevant to their departments in our Heritage Manifesto, we have had several more responses.
The Chancellor, Phillip Hammond, agreed ‘that investing in heritage can create places where people want to live, work and visit as well as boosting jobs growth and well-being’. The Chancellor went on to stress the investment the Government makes in heritage and to invite us to arrange a meeting with his officials.
Boris Johnson, Foreign Secretary, stated ‘your role in protecting and promoting the best of our heritage is crucially important, not only for the proud sense of identity and history we gain from our collective heritage, but also for the magnificent representation of our country that it offers overseas… What strikes me is the truly collaborative approach your organisation has taken as it strives to work across Government… I would encourage you to continue to work with our Communications Directorate, Visit Britain’ and DCMS.
Michael Gove, Environment Secretary, thanked us for the Heritage Manifesto and ‘given the importance of the issue’ is organising an introductory meeting.
Justine Greening, Secretary of State for Education, said that she was ‘very grateful for your continued willingness to engage with my department and read your recommendations for action with much interest… The Institute for Apprenticeships is responsible for… apprenticeship standards… heritage standards are already in development and I would encourage you to take an active role in influencing those so that they meet the needs of the heritage sector.’
Our CEO, Lizzie Glithero-West, and Chairman, Loyd Grossman, were introduced to the new Heritage Minister, John Glenn, at a sector breakfast brief this week. Lizzie raised issues relating to Brexit set out in our Brexit Briefing and Loyd discussed heritage tourism.