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
Senior Built Heritage Officer
Nell Hellier is the Senior Built Heritage Officer for Carmarthenshire County Council. She leads the county’s statutory built heritage functions. Her work ensures Carmarthenshire’s historic environment is protected through sensitive, conservation‑led decision‑making.
Since joining the Tywi Centre in 2008, Nell has been central to its reputation as a Welsh centre of excellence for heritage skills. She delivers high‑quality training to homeowners, contractors, surveyors and conservation professionals, covering traditional materials, building repair, conservation principles, and legislation. Her teaching blends technical expertise with clear, practical guidance.
Nell also plays an influential role nationally, working with organisations such as the Construction Industry Training Board and Cadw to promote traditional skills and strengthen Wales’s heritage construction sector. Living in an old building herself, she brings relatable, hands‑on insight to every aspect of her work.
Approachable, knowledgeable, and deeply committed to safeguarding Wales’s historic buildings, Nell is always happy to help — and if she can’t assist directly, she’ll guide you to someone who can.
Contact details:
Email: nhellier@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
Tel: 07929770732
Helena Burke
Heritage Skills & Projects Officer
Helena Burke is the Heritage Skills and Projects Officer at the Tywi Centre, leading the development and delivery of high‑quality training in traditional building skills. She works across accredited NVQ heritage programmes, sector partnerships and conservation projects, ensuring training is professional, practical and aligned with the needs of Wales’s heritage construction workforce.
Helena manages and delivers grant‑funded initiatives that strengthen heritage skills, support communities and promote best practice in the repair, care and retrofit of historic buildings. Her work connects learners, craftspeople and organisations, helping to build capacity and confidence across the sector.
Through her role, Helena plays a key part in safeguarding traditional craft knowledge and ensuring it remains relevant, accessible and future‑focused.
Contact details:
Email: hburke@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
Tel: 07929 770743
Joe Moriarty
JMoriarty@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
Tom Duxbury
Leading Specialist in Heritage Construction & Traditional Building Skills
Tom Duxbury is one of Wales’s most experienced and respected heritage construction professionals, bringing over 30 years of hands‑on expertise to the sector. With a career rooted in traditional craftsmanship and conservation‑led repair, Tom has become a key figure in advancing high‑quality heritage skills training.
For 25 years, Tom ran a successful specialist joinery and building business, delivering bespoke traditional work across historic buildings and structures. This deep practical foundation now drives his exceptional training and assessment delivery at the Tywi Centre, where he teaches Level 1–3 heritage carpentry, plastering, and traditional building maintenance.
Tom’s professional achievements include MCIOB Chartered Builder status and a First Class Honours Degree in Building Conservation and Management. Most recently, he has strengthened his academic credentials with an MSc in Building Conservation, further enhancing his authority in building pathology, conservation ethics, and traditional materials.
Dedicated, knowledgeable, and highly regarded across the heritage sector, Tom combines real‑world experience with academic excellence to inspire and support the next generation of conservation professionals.
Contact: canolfantywicentre@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
James Yeandle
Built Heritage Officer
James is the Built Heritage Officer for Carmarthenshire County Council, responsible for safeguarding the county’s historic built environment — including 1,950 listed buildings and 27 conservation areas. He provides specialist statutory advice on proposals affecting these heritage assets, ensuring that change is managed sensitively, sustainably and in line with national legislation. Anyone seeking guidance on listed building consent or conservation area requirements will work directly with James.
James holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Conservation of the Historic Environment and has over a decade of experience within the Local Planning Authority. He is a full professional member of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC), reflecting his expertise in conservation principles, planning policy and historic building repair.
During his years with the authority, James has developed an in‑depth understanding of Carmarthenshire’s rich architectural character. His work across the county’s towns, villages and rural landscapes has given him a deep appreciation of its historic buildings and the issues affecting their care.
Contact details:
Email: bhconsultations@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
Matt Pyart
Built Heritage Officer
Matt Pyart is has returned to Carmarthenshire County Council’s Built Heritage team, after several years working in Pembrokeshire’s historic environment service. Matt began his heritage career in Carmarthenshire, and his return brings valuable continuity, deep local knowledge and a strong understanding of the county’s architectural character.
Matt holds a BSc (Hons) in Architectural and Building Conservation and is a full member of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC), reflecting his professional expertise in conservation principles, historic building repair and planning policy.
In his role, Matt supports the protection and sensitive management of Carmarthenshire’s historic buildings and conservation areas. He advises owners, agents and professionals on traditional materials, appropriate repair methods and statutory requirements, helping ensure that change to heritage assets is carried out with care and in line with conservation legislation.
Contact details:
Email: bhconsultations@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
Oliver Coe
Master Mason & Consultant Heritage Masonry Tutor & Assessor
Oliver’s professional practice is rooted in deep craftsmanship. Through Coe Stone Ltd, he has delivered specialist work across Wales and beyond. His company provides a full spectrum of heritage stone services — from material sourcing and design to carving and construction.
As a tutor, Oliver brings exceptional practical knowledge, clarity of instruction and a passion for traditional craft. He teaches all aspects of stonemasonry, ensuring learners gain both technical skill and an understanding of conservation principles. His long-standing industry experience makes him an invaluable part of the Tywi Centre’s heritage training team.