The Collections Management Traineeships Programme is a joint initiative by the Collections Trust and Arts Council England, supporting up to 20 trainees in UK museums to enhance their skills in collections management and professional networking. Trainees will receive resources, seminar access, and one-on-one support while working on a specific project related to their development. Eligibility is targeted toward entry-level professionals in the museum sector with no more than five years of experience, and the application deadline is July 11.

1. Introducing the Collections
Trust/Arts Council England
Collections Management
Traineeships Programme
June 2014

2. About the programme
• The Collections Management Traineeships Programme is a joint pilot initiative
between the Collections Trust and the Arts Council England
• The programme will provide support for up to 20 trainees working in UK
museums to:
– Build their skills and competencies in professional Collections
Management;
– Improve their knowledge and understanding of the requirements of the
Museum Accreditation Scheme relating to collections;
– Develop their professional network

3. How it works
• Trainees will attend an introductory seminar where they will identify learning
objectives and develop a CPD plan and be introduced to a Collections Trust-
appointed trainee liaison;
• Trainees will work with their employers to identify a project through which to
build their knowledge of professional collections management;
• Trainees will be supported to review their progress and CPD, and to support
one another through an e-learning platform;
• On completion of the traineeship, trainees will come together to review their
progress and identify future goals

4. What do you get?
• Trainees will receive:
– A Collections Skills Support Pack including a guide to the programme, free
publications and useful information & resources;
– A free Collections Management Traineeship Seminar, including travel &
accommodation support;
– A fully-funded delegate place at the Collections Trust’s events, including
the OpenCulture conference, Going Digital event and a workshop on Risk,
Rationalisation and Resilience
– Support from a Collections Trust-appointed trainee liaison
– Access to the Collections Trust’s networks and communities

5. Benefits for trainees
Practical Skills
Practical hands-on experience, exposure to the professional community and a
library of best-practice publications.
Career progression
Opportunities for networking, attendance at professional events, a CPD plan,
evidence of practical skills & competencies for future employers
Coaching and development
One-to-one support, peer support and access to online e-learning platform
Financial support
Support for costs of travel, accommodation and events

6. Benefits for employers
Supported CPD
Targeted, expert support for professional development for your staff
Project delivery
Expert advice and support for a focused project addressing a specific need
Personal development
Opportunities for your staff to build skills, confidence and professional networks
Financial support
Support for costs of travel, accommodation and events for trainees
Sector profile
Your museum profiled as a supporter of the traineeships programme

7. Scope of the traineeship
PRACTITIONER MANAGER LEADER
Commitment to
customer focus
Collections Management as a tool
to support effective display &
interpretation
Ethics and social
responsibility
Collections Management
underpinned by professional
values & ethics
Delivering effective
outcomes
Professional practice
competencies (eg. documentation,
environmental management)
Developing positive
relationships
Managerial and communications
competencies

8. Timeline
• Call for applicants Ends July 11
• Applicants invited to ‘meet & greet’ at OpenCulture June 25/26
• Applicants selected July 25
• Trainee seminar End August
• Mid-year review January 2015
• Traineeship concludes, final workshop May 2015

9. Eligibility criteria
• To be eligible for admission to the Collections Management Traineeships
Programme, candidates must:
– Be legally entitled to work or volunteer in the UK
– Be working or volunteering in the UK museum and heritage sector
– Have worked or volunteered in this capacity for no more than 5 years
– Have secured the support of their current host or employer
– Be positive, enthusiastic and open in their approach
– Be willing to commit to active participation in the programme

10. Conditions
• Candidates are not expected to hold an academic museum studies
qualification to be eligible for the programme;
• The traineeships are unpaid – we expect that the trainee will engage with
the programme as part of their development within existing employment;
• The traineeships are not accessible to people who are not already working
within the UK museum and heritage sector;
• The traineeships are targeted toward entry-level professionals with no more
than 5 years experience in the sector

11. Conditions
• Candidates are not expected to hold an academic museum studies
qualification to be eligible for the programme;
• The traineeships are unpaid – we expect that the trainee will engage with
the programme as part of their development within existing employment;
• The traineeships are not accessible to people who are not already working
within the UK museum and heritage sector;
• The traineeships are targeted toward entry-level professionals with no more
than 5 years experience in the sector

12. How to apply
• Candidates should download and complete the Application Form from
http://www.collectionslink.org.uk/traineeships
• Application Forms, including employers’ confirmation, should be returned
not later than 17.00 on Friday 11th
July either by email to
nick@collectionstrust.org.uk or in writing to:
Nick Poole
Collections Management Traineeships
Collections Trust
WC209 Natural History Museum
Cromwell Road
London SW7 5BD

13. Contact
@NickPoole1
@CollectionTrust
WC209 Natural History Museum
Cromwell Road
London SW7 5BD
www.collectionslink.org.uk
nick@collectionstrust.org.uk