The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is investing £7.3m in the heritage sector to support specialist skills and training opportunities.

The first £2.3m will finance on-the-job training for a further 150 people on the HLF's existing bursary programme.

Michelle King, former HLF reed and sedge cutting trainee, said: "Through HLF funding, I did an 18-month on-the-job training course which paved the way to finding a full-time job with the Norfolk Wildlife Trust as an assistant warden. It's fantastic news that more people will now benefit and find fulfilling careers within the heritage sector."

The remaining £5m will finance up to 1,000 paid training opportunities in roles that will enable the public to learn more about our heritage via the Skills for the Future programme being launched towards the end of the year.

Chair Dame Jenny Abramsky said: "HLF wants to focus on offering people skills that will give them a future career and at the same time meet the needs of the sector. I believe passionately that heritage can play a significant part in economic recovery.

"This immediate cash injection followed by a wider commitment over the longer term will ensure our heritage is protected for the future and represents a hugely exciting chance to attract people who might not usually consider a career within it."

According to the National Heritage Training Group, more than 10,000 additional skilled craftspeople are required to meet current shortages in the built heritage sector across the UK, emphasising the importance of providing training opportunities and apprenticeships in traditional heritage skills previously passed down from generation to generation.

Ben Bradshaw, culture minister, said: "It's wonderful to know people will be trained in the skills needed to look after and help us learn about our shared heritage and that this will include opportunities for all sorts of people, especially younger people.

"The money will help a whole host of organisations nurture new talent and provide those who are currently unemployed or changing direction with the opportunity to really make a difference."