Developing a skilled workforce - maximising the potential of people
If a collection defines a museum, then its people, from director to volunteer, bring it to life. Museums need to harness the talent pool available to them and help the whole of the workforce to develop their skills in realising their full potential. Skills training has proved to be one of the most widely valued elements of Renaissance investment in the South West, enabling museums throughout the region to continue to develop, raise their standards and to improve the quality of the visitor experience.
The South West Museum Skills Programme
Since 2006, Renaissance South West has invested in training for skills development across the region. Programmes have been informed by Museum Development Officers' understanding of current training needs. The training has included sharing skills sessions and training programmes for managers. An evaluation report on the last 5 years of the programme will be published here shortly.
Since 2009, Renaissance South has contracted the South Western Federataion of Museums and Galleries to deliver the Museum Skills Programme across the region. A new programme will launch this Autumn, 2011. Full details of the new programme including booking information will appear on the training pages of the South West Fed's website.
Volunteer Framework
With the support of Renaissance South West, the Royal Albert Memorial Museum has developed a volunteer framework to help small museums to effectively manage and administrate their volunteers. Although initially devised for Devon, the free package of a CD ROM and booklet will help all small museums recruit, train and manage volunteers by providing information and practical advice covering all aspects of involving volunteers in museum. It includes a wide range of adaptable templates divided into four sections: Planning, Recruitment, Managing & Supporting Volunteers and Evaluation & Forward Planning. It is hoped that this tool will build consistent practice across museums and help them to manage and develop one of their most valuable resources; their volunteers.
Qualifications
The training supported by Renaissance South West provides some of the skills required for recognised qualifications, such as:
The Associateship of the Museums Association – the recognised professional qualification for all who work in the museum sector.
Renaissance South West has also invested in Creative Apprenticeships in the region.
Positive Action Traineeship Programme (PAT)
All Hub museums have invested in Positive Action Traineeship programmes (PAT’s). PAT’s are a long term programme which is placing trainees in non-Hub museums, aimed at diversifying the workforce. It operates at three levels providing, over a period of three months to three years, support to trainees from BME backgrounds
- graduates in acquiring post graduate qualifications
- bursaries for 3 month work placements
- funding for management training
This long term investment is designed to ensure that the makeup of the workforce will change to more accurately reflect the population museums are designed to serve. In addition all Hub museums have developed training programmes for their own staff and for other staff in the region.
Diversifying your organisation
A regional group of Diversity Champions representing most of the Hub museums and Renaissance South West met regularly during 2010-11. This group developed a series of good practice resources including case studies, links and model documents. The network is funding the South West Federation of Museums and Galleries to make these available on its website. These resources will be available shortly.