Federation of Archaeological Managers and Employers

Federation of Archaeological Managers and Employers
Name	Federation of Archaeological Managers and Employers
Type	Professional association
Founded	1970s
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Region served	United Kingdom and Ireland
Membership	Archaeological contractors, consulting practices, commercial units
Leader title	Chair

Federation of Archaeological Managers and Employers is a United Kingdom–based professional association representing the managers, senior staff, and employers who run commercial archaeological organisations. It engages with Historic England, National Trust (United Kingdom), English Heritage, Scottish Government, Welsh Government, Northern Ireland Assembly, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Planning and environment law and private sector clients to influence policy, standards, and employment conditions affecting archaeological practice. The federation liaises with universities such as University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University College London, University of York, and professional bodies like the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, Institute for Archaeologists, and international organisations including International Council on Monuments and Sites, Council of Europe, European Union institutions.

History

The organisation emerged from discussions among commercial archaeology directors in the 1970s and 1980s, responding to demands created by post‑war planning legislation such as the Town and Country Planning Act 1947 and the later Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. Early engagements connected with archaeological units created after major infrastructure projects including the M25 motorway, the Channel Tunnel, and HS1 railway. It developed alongside influential reports and frameworks produced by bodies like English Heritage and scholarly debates in journals such as the Antiquaries Journal and Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society. Over time it positioned itself in relation to professionalisation movements advocated by the Institute for Archaeologists and responded to regulatory changes from administrations including the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Structure and Membership

The federation is governed by an elected executive drawn from directors and senior managers of archaeological companies, similar in governance model to trade associations like the Confederation of British Industry and membership bodies such as the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Members range from small local firms to larger consultancies that have worked on projects for clients including National Grid (Great Britain), Network Rail, Highways England, Canal & River Trust, and multinational developers. It operates committees that mirror structures in bodies like the Health and Safety Executive, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, and sectoral groups found in the Heritage Lottery Fund funded projects. Membership criteria reference professional standards set by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists and employment law frameworks such as those interpreted by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

Roles and Activities

The federation represents employer interests in negotiations over pay and conditions with trade unions such as Unite the Union, GMB, and the Trades Union Congress. It provides employer advice on matters that intersect with legislation like the Employment Rights Act 1996, the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and procurement rules influenced by Public Contracts Regulations 2015. It engages in contractual practice debates involving clients such as Local Government Association authorities, major developers like British Land, and infrastructure bodies including Transport for London and HS2. The federation also collaborates with statutory archaeological bodies including the Historic Environment Scotland and the RCAHMS-related successors.

Policy, Advocacy, and Standards

Advocacy work includes responding to consultations from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, submissions to select committees of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, and engagement with planning authorities such as London Borough of Camden and principal regional planning bodies. The organisation has participated in debates over the implementation of national planning policy such as the National Planning Policy Framework and standards promulgated by Historic England and Cadw. It contributes to sectoral guidance alongside the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists and has lobbied on funding mechanisms akin to interventions by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the National Heritage Memorial Fund.

Publications and Guidance

The federation produces guidance on employer responsibilities, model contracts, and good practice that complement documents from the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, guidance by Historic England, and technical manuals used in fieldwork training at institutions like the Institute of Archaeology, UCL. Its publications are cited in project briefs for fieldwork commissioned by clients such as Oxford Archaeology, Wessex Archaeology, and Museum of London Archaeology Service. It has issued position papers on topics addressed in academic outlets including the Journal of Field Archaeology and policy forums like the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Archaeology.

Conferences, Training, and Professional Development

The federation organises conferences and seminars that attract speakers from universities and agencies such as the British Museum, Museum of London, Historic Environment Scotland, and advisers from regulatory bodies like the Planning Inspectorate. Training offerings cover subjects linked to the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 and archaeological project management approaches practised by consultancies including Cotswold Archaeology and Archaeological Services (University of Durham). Events are often co‑hosted with professional organisations such as the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists and sectoral funders like the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Impact and Criticism

Supporters credit the federation with professionalising commercial archaeology, improving employer representation in policy fora, and clarifying contractual and health and safety responsibilities on projects for clients like Network Rail and Highways England. Critics argue that employer‑focused representation can conflict with archaeological research priorities championed by academic departments such as University of Leicester and public sector units like the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council predecessors, and that market pressures influenced by developers including Barratt Developments can compromise standards. Debates continue over balancing commercial viability with research outcomes, data archiving obligations tied to repositories like the Archaeology Data Service and public access expectations advocated by organisations such as the National Trust (United Kingdom).

Category:Archaeological organisations in the United Kingdom