qualifications and experience

Jon Kenny

Jon started out in a very different career, following an HND in Business Studies at the old Plymouth Polytechnic, he worked in retailing and then in social housing. During this time Jon spent a lot of time encouraging communities to get involved with the management of their housing estates. Jon also started to go on archaeological excavations in his holidays. In 1992 he left housing to start a degree in Archaeology at the University of York. He then obtained the following academic qualifications to add to his considerable experience of working with people and communities:

BA Hons in Archaeology at the University of York (1995).
MA (with distinction) in Archaeological Heritage Management at the University of York (1997).
PhD in Science Studies at Lancaster University (2002).

Jon worked from 2001 until 2006 at the Archaeology Data Service and University of York (as a project manager of European and HLF projects and as temporary editor of the internet journal Internet Archaeology). During this time Jon helped found Friends of Active Archaeology, a community archaeology group keeping his eye in as a field archaeologist. In 2006 Jon moved to York Archaeological Trust (YAT) to become their Community Archaeologist. After nine years of experience at YAT Jon started up his own family business in community archaeology with his wife (Liz Allen).

In addition to his academic qualifications Jon has the following professional accreditations:

Full Member of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (since 2004 membership number 2601).

Jon has undertaken a number of courses over the last 10 years:

First Aid at Work with St John's Ambulance.
Paediatric First Aid with St John's Ambulance.
DBS Enhanced Certificate: Child Workforce issued 3rd August 2016.
DBS Enhanced Certificate: Vulnerable Adults Workforce issued 2010.
DBS Enhanced Certificate: Child and Adult Workforce, School Volunteer issued 2022.
Construction Skills Certification Scheme (HS&E tested).

Liz Allen

Liz is not a professional archaeologist, but she's hung around with them for the past 20+ years... Her "day job" involves managing research for an NHS organisation.

She started her working life as a nurse in London before moving back to her to Yorkshire roots to undertake degrees in Social Policy at the University of York:

BA Hons in Social Policy and Administration at the University of York (1991)
DPhil in Social Policy at the University of York (1996)

Following her doctorate Liz has worked in academic research, NHS management and research management (both in the NHS and Higher Education) where she learnt about making successful funding applications, as well as administering some! In addition to the day job and supporting Jon with the business, she undertakes voluntary work with York Down Syndrome Support Group, a group of which she was a founder member in 2012 and that she currently chairs.