Update on The Job Success of Former Trainees - Neil Stevenson, Project Co-ordinator

Oxford University Museums & Collections (OUMC) was awarded a funding grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) as part of the ‘Skills for The Future’ programme. 

Skills for The Future helps organisations across the UK provide work-based training that helps people pursue a career in heritage. The initiative is intended to:

-       Increase the range and quality of work-based training to develop skills in the heritage sector

-       Meet identified skills shortages in the heritage sector

-       Increase the capacity of the sector to deliver training and share good practice

-       Increase the diversity of the heritage workforce

Since 2012 10 trainees have completed their training with us, with a further 6 currently training. The project is due to finish summer 2015. OUMC focused on trainees wishing to pursue a career in museum education and outreach. 

Current trainees meeting former trainees (Carly far left, Kelly far right)

As part of the training each trainee completes 3 placements across 3 of the following OUMC Education Departments: Ashmolean Museum, University Museum of Natural History, Pitt Rivers Museum, Museum of The History of Science, Harcourt Arboretum & Botanic Garden, and the Joint Museums Office. Each trainee follows a  training plan which in addition to on-the-job training, includes formal training days, peer learning sessions and regular 1:1’s with the Project Co-ordinator.

Training plan 2014-2015

A key selection criteria for our project was that all candidates had to be able to demonstrate they had a barrier to gaining employment in museum education and outreach. I am delighted to report that on completion of their training, trainees have gone on to great job success. Trainees have moved on from Skills for The Future and achieved employment in the following areas:

Families, Secondary & Projects Officer, Pitt Rivers/University Museum of Natural History
Communities & Learning Officer, Stowe House
x2 Education Assistant, Museum of Oxford
Education & Outreach Officer, Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum
Education & Volunteers Officer, University Church St Mary The Virgin
Volunteers Assistant, Joint Museums Office, Oxford University
Programmes Administrator, Schools, Families & Young People, V & A Museum
Education & Interpretation Officer, Lakeland Arts Trust
Membership Development Officer, RSPB
Public Engagement Officer, University of Oxford Museum of Natural History
Learning Mentor, Cherwell School
x4 Freelance Learning Leaders, Cogges Manor Farm
Freelance work, Witney Museum
Seasonal Outreach Officer, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust
Learning & Access Manager, Centre of the Cell
Education Assistant Buckinghamshire County Museum and Roald Dahl Galleries
Volunteer Coordinator, HLF Wild About Hampstead Heath
Administrative Assistant, Holocaust Memorial Day Trust
Lifelong Learning & Outreach Officer, STEAM Museum & Lydiard Park House, Swindon
x3 Learning Activities Assistants, Historic Royal Palaces 
Family Festivals Coordinator, Museum of London, Docklands 
Museum Teacher, British Museum
x2 Workshop Leader, The Story Museum, Oxford 
Interpretive Guide, Creswell Craggs Museum and Visitor Centre
Learning & Events Assistant, Natural History Museum at Tring
Volunteering Administrator, Oxford University Joint Museums Office
x2 Learning Assistant, Buckinghamshire County Museum 
Exhibitions Assistant, Museum of The History of Science
Communications Officer, Oxford University Museum of Natural History 
Families Assistant, Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Learning Officer, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
Interpreter and Education Facilitator, Galleries of Justice Museum, Nottingham