This programme closed to applications on 31 January 2013. Demand for funding is high; we have received 132 applications from across the UK. If you have a query about the Skills for the Future programme that is not answered by the information given below, please email skills@hlf.org.uk.
Skills for the Future funds work-based training in a wide range of skills that are needed to look after buildings, landscapes, habitats, species, and museum and archive collections, as well as equipping people to lead education and outreach programmes, manage volunteers and use new technology. We give grants to organisations that can demonstrate a skills shortage and are able to plan and develop a new training programme and to recruit, train and pay trainees new to the sector. You can apply for a grant from £100,000 to £1million.
This £15million 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.
The Skills for the Future initiative will achieve outcomes for heritage, people and communities. Individual projects needs to contribute towards the three outcomes listed below.
Outcomes for people
With our investment, people will have:
- developed skills
- learnt about heritage
Outcomes for communities
With our investment:
- more people and a wider range of people will have engaged with heritage
Skills for the Future applications go through a two-round process. This is so that you can apply at an early stage of planning your project and get an idea of whether you have a good chance of getting a grant before you send us your proposals in greater detail.
You must submit your first-round application by 12 noon, 31 January 2013. We will assess your application and it will then go to our Board of Trustees for a decision in May 2013.
If your application is successful, you will then need to submit a detailed training plan. We must receive it by 31 December 2013. We will assess this in eight weeks and send it to the next available decision meeting.
In May 2010 we awarded £17million to 54 projects that will create 800 new paid training opportunities in heritage settings across the UK.
Over the summer and autumn 2010, our grantees produced detailed training plans to inform the delivery of their projects. In December 2011, our Board of Trustees decided to invite the Skills for the Future grantees and a further 10 Training Bursary grantees to apply for a grant increase to deliver additional training places quickly. Many are still advertising exciting new traineeships offering skills in boatbuilding, volunteer management, horticulture and a huge range of other skills.
Access a full list of Skills for the Future projects and find out about the available training opportunities.
Find out more about the HLF Training Bursaries programme.