The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has announced additional investment totalling £13.6m for 51 skills projects through its Skills for the Future and Training Bursaries programmes.

Nearly 790 new placements are to be delivered as a result of the funding boost, representing 700 years' worth of paid training opportunities for those looking to enter the heritage sector.

Among the projects set to benefit from the latest investment are the digitising of archives and the conservation of historic gardens, supporting both traditional and contemporary skills.

Skills for the Future, which offers work-based training in a range of areas, received £9.5m of funding to support 43 projects across the UK.

Meanwhile, Training Bursaries - launched in 2004 to provide on-the-job accredited training in 50 skillsets - has secured £4.1m towards the delivery of eight projects.

HLF chair Dame Jenny Abramsky said: "This extra money expands our tailored skills programmes at a time when demand for training opportunities is extraordinarily high.

"The Heritage Lottery Fund has been championing work-based placements for a number of years and we are pleased to be able to give even more financial support through the Training Bursaries and Skills for the Future programmes."

Details: www.hlf.org.uk