Rooted in Place. Skilled by Hand. Built for the Future.
The Tywi Centre exists to protect and pass on the skills that keep historic buildings alive.
Traditional buildings shape the character of our cities, towns and villages. They embody local materials, skilled hands and generations of knowledge. When the skills to repair them properly are lost, the buildings — and the communities around them — suffer.
We are here to safeguard those skills and raise standards across the sector.
Heritage Skills, Properly Taught
We deliver high‑quality training in traditional and heritage construction, with accredited pathways up to NVQ Level 3.
Our focus includes:
- Heritage carpentry and joinery
- Masonry and stone repair
- Lime work and traditional materials
- Conservation principles and repair philosophy
Training is practical, rigorous and grounded in real buildings.
All accredited programmes follow CITB standards and are regularly monitored to ensure quality and consistency. Learners leave not only qualified, but capable — with the judgement and professionalism required to work responsibly on historic fabric.
Learning Built Around People
We teach with clarity and purpose, valuing:
- Accuracy over speed
- Understanding over box‑ticking
- Skilled judgement over shortcuts
- Confidence built through real competence
We create an inclusive learning environment that supports a wide range of learning styles, experiences and strengths.
Assessment is designed to be fair, transparent and meaningful — a way of recognising genuine skill, progress and professional readiness.
Repair, Reuse and Retrofit — Done Properly
Historic buildings need informed care, not inappropriate modern interventions.
Traditional materials such as timber, stone and lime allow buildings to manage moisture and movement naturally. Incompatible products can cause lasting damage.
We promote approaches that are:
- Fabric‑first and evidence‑led
- Based on compatible, breathable materials
- Reversible wherever possible
- Proportionate to the building’s age and significance
Low‑carbon outcomes begin with repair, reuse and skilled decision‑making
Our Site
The Tywi Centre is based at Dinefwr Farm, Llandeilo, within a Grade II listed group of barns that once formed the Home Farm of the Newton House Estate, now managed by the National Trust.
Our facilities include a well‑equipped classroom for up to 20 participants, flexible training space and displays celebrating traditional building craft. The historic setting reinforces our purpose: the buildings themselves are part of the learning.
Our Work and Impact
We are the UK’s only provider of NVQ Level 3 qualifications in Heritage Carpentry, Heritage Masonry and Heritage Plastering.
Alongside our NVQs, we deliver accredited professional courses in energy efficiency for older buildings, best practice repair and maintenance, and traditional building performance.
We also:
- Provide bespoke heritage training for organisations
- Develop curriculum with qualification bodies
- Deliver grant‑funded projects benefiting communities
- Organise sector conferences and knowledge‑sharing events
- Offer one‑to‑one advice sessions and specialist guidance
Our work strengthens skills, raises standards and supports the long‑term future of historic buildings across Wales and the UK.
Why It Matters
The construction industry faces skills shortages while climate pressures demand sustainable solutions.
Repairing and adapting existing buildings is one of the most responsible choices we can make. That requires skill, knowledge and proper training.
The Tywi Centre invests in people so that traditional buildings — and the expertise to care for them — have a future.
The Team
Nell Hellier
I am the Senior Built Heritage Officer at Carmarthenshire County Council and have been working in traditional building conservation at the Tywi Centre since 2008. I live in an old building and so am familiar with all the challenges that come with it! I am responsible for managing the Built Heritage Services of the county and delivering all the Tywi Centre projects, so if you need any training or general information about old buildings please contact me. If I can’t help you I will always be happy to point you towards someone who can. I am also involved in working across Wales to promote the heritage building agenda with the Welsh Traditional Buildings Forum and Cadw, amongst others.
Contact details:
Email: nhellier@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
Tel: 07929770732
Helena Burke
Helena Burke is the Heritage Skills and Projects Officer at the Tywi Centre, supporting the development and delivery of high-quality training in traditional building skills.
She works across accredited NVQ programmes, heritage projects and sector partnerships, helping to ensure training meets professional standards while remaining practical, inclusive and forward-looking.
Helena also leads delivery of grant-funded initiatives that strengthen heritage skills, support communities and promote best practice in the care and retrofit of historic buildings.
Through her work, she helps safeguard traditional craft knowledge and ensure it remains relevant for the future.
Contact details:
Email: hburke@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
Tel: 07929 770743
Tom Duxbury
With over 30 years in the in the construction industry, Tom has a wealth of knowledge and experience on which to draw. He has recently achieved MCIOB Chartered Builder status. Gaining this internationally recognised qualification is a tremendous achievement and recognition of his true professionalism in the field of Heritage Construction.
He has run his own specialist joinery and building business for 25 of those years before moving into delivering Level 1, 2 and 3 training and assessments in heritage carpentry and plastering and the repair and maintenance of all traditional buildings.
Following Tom’s graduation with a 1st class honours degree in Building Conservation and Management, he joined the Tywi Centre team in 2012. Tom delivers practical training on construction sites and in workshop situations, as well as classroom based delivery using digital media. His own academic education continued with his attainment of a Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement in 2015, and a Level 3 Certificate in Learning & Development in 2016.
Alongside Tom’s training and assessing he is currently working as Conservation Officer for the Brecon Beacons National Park, which has enabled him to hone his knowledge in conservation principles, policy and legislation.
Contact details:
Email: tduxbury@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
James Yeandle
James is the Built Heritage Officer for Carmarthenshire County Council with responsibility for the protection of the historic built environment including 1,950 listed buildings and 27 conservation areas. If you require any advice relating to those historic assets, it will be James that you need to liaise with.
James holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Conservation of the Historic Environment and has been working the Local Planning Authority for over 10 years. He has full professional membership to the Institute of Historic Building Conservation.
Since his time with the Local Planning Authority, he has experienced the rich architectural and historic Character of Carmarthenshire. This has allowed him to build up a real knowledge and appreciation of historic buildings and areas of the region.
You can find out more about how to look after your listed building by visiting the Carmarthenshire County Council website.
Contact details:
Email: Jyeandle@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
Matt Pyart
Matt Pyart is our newest Built Heritage Officer and joins us from Pembrokeshire. Matt started out his career as a built heritage officer in Carmarthenshire – and it is great to be able to welcome him back.
Contact details:
Email: MWSPyart@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
Joe Moriarty
Joe Moriarty, is the Monitoring and Enforcement Officer: Planning and Built Heritage and one of our Traditional Skills Tutors.
Joe works closely with the Built Heritage Officers, to ensure that any work to both listed buildings and those in Conservation Areas is undertaken using appropriate methods and materials and with the right consents in place. Having worked as a traditional builder and consultant for many years, Joe consolidated his knowledge and skills by completing a Masters Qualification in Sustainable Building Conservation from the Welsh School of Architecture in Cardiff.
Joe is has worked with the team as a consultant tutor for some years so is very knowledgeable about historic building methods and materials. Joe is the ideal tutor on our NVQ3 Course in Heritage Plastering as he completed this qualification in 2014.
Contact details:
JMoriarty@carmarthenshire.gov.uk