Workforce development for the archive sector

A team of workers pulls together (catalogue reference: INF 3/125b)

The National Archives has today launched a workforce development strategy for the archive sector. Independent research consultancy Pye Tait was commissioned to create the strategy, which was further developed with the support of Archives Unlocked.

The strategy draws upon extensive dialogue with people from across the archive sector, as well as with a range of funders and partners from the wider culture, heritage and information worlds.

Five strategic objectives to foster a skilled and flexible workforce emerged as a result of roundtable discussions, in-depth interviews and a national workforce survey. The strategy highlights in particular the importance of the archive workforce embracing new digital skills, developing new leaders from within the sector and also tackling the challenging lack of diversity within archives.

Dr Valerie Johnson, Director of Research and Collections at The National Archives, said: “This strategy clearly shows the drive of the sector to embrace change and develop new skills for the challenges of today. We look forward to working with our partners and the Archives Unlocked Board to implement the initiatives highlighted in this strategy and welcome comment and participation from the sector to take forward the strategy together.”

Geoff Pick, former chair of the Archives and Records Association, Director of London Metropolitan Archives and part of the Archives Unlocked board, said: “This strategy is built on the views of the whole sector and I am pleased to see that it addresses the critical issues that all archives are facing, such as diversity and social mobility. The collaborative work in this document opens up new creative pathways for the sector to both recruit new talent and support the professional development of its current workforce.”

• Read the Workforce Development Strategy (PDF, 1.3MB)

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https://ift.tt/2PnmJnT Andrew Harrison August 30, 2018 at 10:45AM