The training taught us how to assess the significance of a heritage asset using four 'Heritage Values'; Historical, Aesthetic, Evidential and Communal. We then explored case studies and debated harm to heritage v's the reuse of heritage. We visited the beautiful Bluecoat (http://www.thebluecoat.org.uk/) as an example of 'Constructive Conservation' in practice.
English Heritage have produced a helpful guide (which is open access) to 'Constructive Conservation' for anyone who is interested in finding out more: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/publications/constructive-conservation-sustainable-growth-historic-places/Acc_ConConservation.pdf