The need to develop our workforce
The UK’s archives are vital record keepers of the country’s history, enabling us to revisit and learn about crucial events, stories, and moments from all corners of our communities. By their very nature, the records we keep represent all walks of life. Despite the breadth and inclusive nature of our record keeping, the archive workforce is still failing to be representative of the UK’s population, which is jeopardising the sector’s ability to be truly relevant, connected, and open to all.
We must harness talent from diverse backgrounds and fling open our doors so we can build a workforce for the future that is appropriately skilled, representative, and inclusive. This is why one of the strategic priorities of Archives Unlocked is to ‘diversify the archives workforce by opening up entry routes into the profession, such as apprenticeships, and promoting fair and open recruitment’. We want to support new and diverse talent in learning about archive careers, alongside creating a range of entry routes so that different people can train in different ways and do so knowing there is parity of esteem between each route.
To this end, we are proud to have facilitated the development of the Level 7 Archivist and Records Manager Apprenticeships, the first technical education training route to becoming a qualified archivist. Ensuring there is a choice in training and development options means we can broaden the talent pool that we recruit from. We now look to the country’s archives to not only be bold in approaches to record keeping and storytelling, but to also be bold about the way in which we train our current and future workforce. Let’s all work towards being open to all.
The benefits of apprenticeships to your organisation
Apprenticeships are a great way for somebody to train for a specific occupation whilst getting paid. They aid productivity by focusing on developing the knowledge, skills and behaviours that are needed to operate competently in a specific occupation or occupational field. Over 85% of apprentices that have successfully completed an apprenticeship remain employed by the same business they trained with and typically generate between £26-£28 for the economy for every £1 invested in them.
By diversifying your workforce through apprenticeships, there will be various benefits to your organisation, including:
- Increasing capacity for your organisation’s projects
- Gaining new perspectives, skills and ideas
- Improving connections to your archive’s communities
- Being able to plan longer term over three years, rather than shorter placements
After the apprenticeship, if you employ the former apprentice as an archivist or records manager, you’ll also have complete confidence that your new archivist has experience of both the theory and the practice. They’ll also already know your organisation well for a smooth transition.
Hear from current apprentices and recent trainees
Visit our ‘Hear from current apprentices‘ webpage to read first-hand accounts of the apprentices’ experiences and discover the range of organisations from different sectors and regions of England that are already employing a Level 7 Archivist and Records Manager apprentice.
We also have a range of blogs written by the Bridging the Digital Gap trainees, our last workforce development programme, which highlight the benefits of a technical route into the archives sector.