Meet DHBT’s New 'Historic Environment Record Data Integration' Interns
- Admin
- Mar 2
- 2 min read
We’re delighted to welcome Zaid Ansari and Blessings Ndlovu to the DHBT team as part of a University of Derby internship programme.
Zaid and Blessings are working on a joint project with Derbyshire County Council, supporting the County Council’s Historic Environment Record (HER) team. Their role focuses on creating, updating and correcting Monument Records for Grade II listed buildings across Derbyshire - ensuring the county’s built heritage is accurately recorded and accessible to all.
This work is particularly important as it also provides a publicly accessible home for the survey data gathered through our Buildings at Risk project. By strengthening the HER, they are helping to safeguard vital information.
Although both are new to the world of historic buildings, they bring strong data expertise to the role. Zaid, who has a background in medicine, is currently studying for a Master’s in Public Health. Blessings is completing a BSc in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. Their shared interest in applying data skills to real-world challenges made this project a natural fit.
In just a short time, they have already made excellent progress, providing valuable support to the HER team.
Along the way, they’ve also developed a new appreciation for Derbyshire’s historic landscape.
Blessings reflected:
“It’s been a great experience seeing how data management directly supports the physical preservation of Derbyshire’s history. Bridging the gap between modern technology and historic conservation has shown me that data integrity can actually be the first step in saving a building from being lost to time.”
Zaid added:
“What I've enjoyed most about this internship is learning about the sheer diversity of buildings and heritage sites in Derbyshire. Working on this project has made me begin to notice details on buildings around me I would have walked past before — the small features and craftsmanship that make each building unique. It has been a really valuable experience.”
We’re thrilled to see how their skills are already strengthening both the Buildings at Risk project and the wider recording of Derbyshire’s built heritage. Their work highlights how heritage projects benefit from a wide range of skills - including those from data science, health and technology backgrounds.
If you’d like to get involved in our project, helping us survey Grade II listed buildings in South Derbyshire and Erewash, we’d love to hear from you.
Email us at:
This project has been made possible thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players.
