WIREDGOV

Trainees across England will benefit from two new qualifications for the libraries, archives and information services sector thanks to funding awarded to The National Archives from the Heritage Lottery Fund's 'Skills for the Future' programme.

Opening Up Archives for the 21st Century will help to diversify and meet some of the skills gaps in the archive workforce by providing training in community engagement, digital preservation, online user engagement and traditional preservation and interpretation to 26 trainees who will be recruited from across England over the next two years.

Dr. Melinda Haunton, Programmes Manager at The National Archives said "LLUK's work on the development of new qualifications at this point was of concrete help to us in putting together a bid under 'Skills for the Future', a one-off programme which sought to fund high quality training in skills shortage areas."  Benefits of the new vocational training routes include:

. The programme has a nationally-agreed benchmark against which training can be measured allowing for a consistent training experience for all trainees in their multiple workplace locations;
. A formal alternative to postgraduate study as a means of entry to skilled work in archives is opening up;
. Trainees will have the opportunity to gain externally-validated accreditation, increasing employability;
. Employers will have the opportunity to employ people with confirmed specialist skills directly relevant to the post in question.

The Level 2 Diploma and Level 3 Certificate in Libraries, Archives and Information Services offer an alternative pathway into a career in the sector distinct from the traditional post graduate study route. LLUK worked with experts and professionals within the sector to develop the units of assessment for the qualifications which include specialist modules in engaging with the wider community, family history and paleography.

To find out more email asd@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk