ORCA, the commercial arm of the UHI Archaeology Institute, has been re-registered by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA).
CIfA is the leading professional body representing archaeologists working in the UK and overseas — promoting high professional standards and strong ethics in archaeological practice.
Organisations registered by CIfA are committed to quality and integrity in archaeological matters and have demonstrated the requisite skills to:
- provide informed and reliable advice.
- execute schemes of work appropriate to the circumstances, minimising uncertainty, delay and cost.
Registration is for a fixed period, after which organisations must re-apply. As part of this they undergo rigorous peer review and are subject to an inspection.
ORCA’s re-registration inspection took place last year, with the inspectors describing staff as a “close-knit team, who are supportive of each other and work in collaboration with academic staff, postgraduates and undergraduates.”
Outreach work and community engagement was highlighted as a particular strength, with volunteers “nurtured and provided with a wealth of opportunities to learn and develop their own areas of interest.”
The inspectors also noted the strong working relationships ORCA fosters with its clients and archaeological advisers and the fact that staff are encouraged to pursue their research interests, cultivated through strong links with the UHI.
ORCA’s CIfA accreditation is now continued until March 2026, with another inspection scheduled in 2025.
Paul Clark, ORCA’s senior project officer, said: “We’re delighted that our CIfA accreditation continues and offer our thanks to the CIfA inspection team for visiting us.
“A considerable amount of work has been undertaken by ORCA staff since the last inspection to ensure that the high professional standards of CIfA continue to be met. A substantial effort went into preparation for the inspection process and I would like to thank all our staff for their efforts and fully engaging with the inspection team.”
