A York-based conservation company has strengthened its workforce and long-term skills pipeline after receiving targeted support from City of York Council.
Pinnacle Conservation, founded in 2019, has grown to 58 employees, including nine apprentices paid the Real Living Wage through its commitment to the Good Business Charter. The firm delivers heritage restoration projects across Yorkshire, supporting both large historic estates and smaller commercial properties.
Recent work at 60 Goodramgate, an 18th-century building owned by York Conservation Trust, has given trainees practical experience in lime-based materials and joinery. The project forms part of the company’s broader focus on developing skilled craftspeople for heritage work, an area facing future labour shortages.
Managing director Adam Hickey, 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.”
The firm’s direct-employment model is central to its training strategy and has been reinforced by business guidance from the council’s Economic Growth team. Support has included tendering advice through Innovate York, leadership coaching funded by the regional Growth Hub, and access to the Good Business Charter.
This combined backing has helped the company scale responsibly while strengthening York’s specialist heritage skills base.
