Skills Development Options
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Skills Development Options __________________________________________________________________________________ Background This training options pack provides information to illustrate to networks, forums and individual museums how MGS can support them to develop the skills of their paid and volunteer staff. The pack includes a range of information, guidance and ideas for skills development options. As Skills Development Managers, we aim to support a wide range of training provision throughout Scotland. To enhance the training we directly provide, we envisage a range of courses and programmes hosted by museum partnerships which are open to all in order to maximise access to good quality, affordable and relevant training for the Scottish sector. If you would like further information on skills development for your organisation or would like to discuss any of the information in this pack, then please contact the Skills Development Managers at Museums Galleries Scotland: Wendy West [email protected] tel 0131 550 4130 Catherine Cartmell [email protected] tel 0131 550 4131 Further information on skills development can be found on our website: http://www.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk/how-we-help-museums/skills- development/ Pack Contents 1. The National Skills Development Programme 2. How can MGS help? 3. How to assess training need 4. Skills Development Fund 5. Overview of Courses 6. Case studies Skills Development Options __________________________________________________________________________________ 1. The National Skills Development Programme (NSDP) NSDP includes MGS’s annual training programme, which offers a range of formal training courses, the hints and tips workshops, as well as information on a range of other training/development opportunities which MGS run in partnership with other organisations e.g. Creative Scotland, Insights and Ideas Café; Museums Association, Monument Fellowships; Interns programme etc This is an evolving, dynamic programme and exists to inform those in the museums sector about all the skills development opportunities available to them in Scotland. We are happy to advertise any events you are organising for staff in the museum sector which are open for others to book on. Please e-mail [email protected]. if you have an activity you would like to be included on the NSDP. Annual Training Programme Historically, on the annual training programme, there have been basic skills courses in collections care, digital, learning, access and so on. This year, however, the range of courses on offer has been broadened to include the training courses developed from the HLF Skills for the Future Interns programme and adapted for the wider sector. The programme this year looks at addressing the business needs of the sector and includes courses on effective leadership, marketing, project management, social media, museums and money. In addition to these courses a few of the more traditional courses also feature in the programme. 2. How can MGS help? The courses that are offered on the annual training programme are limited in number. To reduce costs to our subscribers they are largely hosted at MGS offices in Edinburgh. However, MGS support museums to access training in their local areas in the following ways: o Hosting a NSDP training course Skills Development Options __________________________________________________________________________________ If you have a number of staff within your organisation and know of any neighbouring organisations that also require the same training, then we can look at bringing the course to you. If you can supply a venue, we will give you 2 free spaces on the course and we will do all the administration and provide refreshments. There would have to be a guarantee of 6-8 attendees from your organisation and the course would be opened up for general booking and administered as part of the wider NSDP. The course would only run if enough bookings were received to make it viable. o In-house bespoke Training Programme If the idea of planning and holding a bespoke training programme which suits your needs is appealing then perhaps you would like to consider applying for one of our Investment Streams to help make this a reality? A training programme does not have to consist of formal training sessions but can also feature: • visits to neighbouring organisations • benchmarking • learning on the job through shadowing and mentoring • team building events for staff and volunteers • skills sharing • action learning sets ... and much more. For inspiration see the McLean Art Gallery Case Study o Network/Forum Training Programme Networks/Forums are in an ideal position to support each other with their training needs and there are many examples of good practice including Highlands Museums- Skills Development and Exchange Case Study. The Skills Development Fund has been created to support networks / forums to run their own skills development programmes which meets the collective need and provides Skills Development Options __________________________________________________________________________________ a range of training options and skills sharing in the local area. Such an application is required to demonstrate that an assessment of the collective training needs has been conducted and shows how the new skills will be embedded. 3. How to assess training needs A Training Needs Analysis is a review of the learning and development requirements for staff, volunteers and trustees/board members. There are many ways that an organisation can assess their training needs. A training needs analysis should consider the skills, knowledge and behaviours of the people in the organisation and how to develop them, both to deliver the organisation’s forward plan and also support the individual’s career progression. Training needs could be simply identified in relation to a project where those involved will need to learn new skills and share knowledge and experiences in order to successfully complete the project. This could be delivered through a training course and supported by shared learning by perhaps visiting a museum who have completed a similar project and sharing progress with colleagues. There are many websites where you can read about Training Needs Analysis and take advantage of downloading toolkits. Here are a few of examples: Skills – Third Sector http://www.skills-thirdsector.org.uk/training_needs_analysis NCVO http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/tna CIPD http://www.cipd.co.uk/hr-resources/factsheets/identifying-learning-talent- development-needs.aspx Creative Skills Set http://www.creativeskillset.org/companies/training/article_5709_1.asp 4. Skills Development Fund The new Skills Development Fund is available to fund projects which will help share and develop the skills and competencies of all parts of the workforce. Summary: • Applications must come from accredited museums and the majority of museums benefiting from the fund must be accredited • Grants of up to £5000 with a minimum of £1000 are available. Applications for up to £20,000 may be considered, however these must Skills Development Options __________________________________________________________________________________ demonstrate a larger strategic project with wider impact. You may apply for up to 100% funding. • The fund is for collaborative / partnership applications i.e. forums, networks, Sector organisations working in collaboration with accredited museums • We will fund all types of skills development and training activities including board development, mentoring, formal training, fact finding visits, skills sharing, shadowing, exchanges, action learning etc. • Projects must complete by 8 March 2015 • There will be an open application process i.e. no deadlines. Starting 1st April 2013 until the Fund is fully allocated. • Majority of funding will be paid up front More information and the application forms can be found on our website The Skills Development Managers have worked with a large number of training providers and developed a wide range of courses over the years. They can provide support and guidance with developing your skills development activities e.g information about training providers, approximate costs, templates for admin processes etc Please have a look at our blog for an example of our most recent project. 5. Case Studies • In-house training programme – McLean Museum and Art Gallery • Skills development and exchange - Highlands Museums Skills Development Options __________________________________________________________________________________ Case Study In-house training programme - McLean Museum and Art Gallery Why is this case study relevant? This project is an example of a museum taking advantage of the opportunity to create a bespoke training programme, set up to suit specific organisational learning and development needs and run within the museum setting. Offering this type of training provision maximised the number of staff from the McLean Museum and Art Gallery who were able to attend courses and further allowed neighbouring organisations the opportunity to take up any surplus places. What were the aims of the project? 1. The training programme aimed to provide the McLean’s front of house staff with opportunities for training and personal development previously denied them because of the logistics of having to travel to courses. Budgets cannot always accommodate the cost of attendance at external courses and the reduction of staffing levels caused