Discover! Creative Careers Week 2025 has been expanded to a month-long programme this November, giving more young people opportunities to encounter and experience creative industry careers. I’d like to use this time to share my apprenticeship story with you.
This time last year, I began my apprenticeship journey at The National Archives after being inspired by the activist archivist movement and the human stories behind the collection. Now, I hope to address common misconceptions and share my experience with archiving as a creative, investigative, and storytelling role.
What does an archivist apprentice do?
The National Archives helped to develop and launch the Level 7 Archivist and Records Manager apprenticeships across England. This allows apprentices to gain a high-level qualification through paid work. It also benefits the sector by empowering more people, with new skills and ideas, to start a career in archives.
While this can support more people in becoming an archivist, many still misunderstand what archivists do. In my experience, people often see it as a boring job, even among those familiar with the cultural heritage sector.
Too often I see archivists portrayed in the media as solitary, introverted, studious types, working alone, surrounded by old stuff, tediously organising and filing records. However, while there is a lot of ‘old stuff’ at The National Archives – over 11 million historical government and public records – for those passionate about history, storytelling, safeguarding access to information and knowledge networks, or data, archives can be dynamic and rewarding.
Among other things, archivists can help uncover hidden histories, shape collective memory and consciousness, and make important decisions about what to preserve, how to describe it, and who gets access.
As an archivist apprentice at The National Archives, I have the invaluable opportunity to work across different departments for three months at a time. During these placements, I can build a supportive network of colleagues who have helped me navigate change and learn important archival skills. Since my last blog post, I have worked in the Collection Expertise and Engagement, Digitisation, and Cataloguing, Taxonomy and Data departments.
To give you an idea of what projects I work on in my role, here is what I have been up to lately:
- processing paid search requests
- participating in practical archival skills training
- cataloguing records for volunteering projects
- publishing my first Stories from the collection as part of South Asian History Month
- digitising archival material
- supporting the delivery of the Ministry of Defence service records project and the National Farm Survey project
To put it simply, no two days are the same!
This photo was featured in my 'Jayaben Desai and the Grunwick dispute' story. Catalogue reference: LAB 10/3923/1.
Unfortunately, stigma about apprenticeships can lead people to overlook them as a valuable career pathway. Apprenticeships are available for all academic levels and to people of all ages, not just school leavers. Additionally, while university is often promoted as the best route for the UK’s young people, it can also be a significant financial commitment and not the right fit for all learning styles or careers.
Apprenticeships do not offer a fallback option, but rather a push forward to success.
The creative side of archiving
Howard Zinn (an American historian, professor, and activist) stressed the social role of archival work and the need for archivists to humanise their ordinary work, he said:
… the collection of records, papers, and memoirs, as well as oral history, is biased towards the important and powerful people of the society, tending to ignore the impotent and obscure: we learn most about the rich, not the poor; the successful, not the failures; the old, not the young; the politically active, not the politically alienated; men, not women; white, not Black; free people rather than prisoners; civilians rather than soldiers; officers rather than enlisted men...
Howard Zinn, Midwest Archives Conference/Archival Issues, July 1977
Perhaps not in the traditional sense, but archival work is a creative career. Archivists shape how stories are told, people are remembered, and information is accessed. This is an inherently creative, intellectual, and even radical act.
In my year at The National Archives, I have learnt from doing. Being a part of the Paid Search Team, I have learnt about creating access for new audiences and ethical decision-making. By researching and writing about strikes and workers’ struggle in the 1970s, I have learnt more about the importance of storytelling through collections – amplifying marginalised voices and histories. The Ministry of Defence service records and National Farm Survey projects have taught me creative problem-solving techniques (and patience). Each role has taught me something new, often unexpected, but always interesting.
Next, I will start my new role in the Events and Exhibition department. I am looking forward to learning about the art of curation and exhibition design and thinking creatively about user engagement in the archives sector.
Final thoughts: why archiving matters
Many people are unfamiliar with archives and archivists. It was not long before I started my apprenticeship that I discovered not only the potential of a career in archives, but also the power of archives as tools for change.
A year on, I can say that an archivist’s role is a fulfilling one. Archives serve history and humanity, supporting education and research, challenging dominant historical narratives, and empowering individuals and communities.
archives.org.uk
Start your archival career
Find out more about working in archives and how you can start your archival career journey.
