Lottery launches digital skills initiative for heritage sector

The National Lottery Heritage Fund has launched a new initiative to promote digital skills across the heritage sector.

Over 2,500 people from heritage organisations across the UK are expected to benefit from the £500,000 investment into free advice and support on how to integrate digital tools into heritage work more effectively.

The new ‘Digital Skills for Heritage’ initiative also seeks to encourage new ‘digitally informed’ leadership through peer-based training to 30 heritage senior executives.

One-to-one mentoring will be available to organisations who have been identified by The National Lottery Heritage Fund as those who will greatly benefit from increasing their digital skills and confidence.

Josie Fraser, head of digital policy for The National Lottery Heritage Fund said:  ‘We’re excited to launch our new advocacy initiative ‘Digital Skills for Heritage’ today which aims to drive up digital capabilities across the heritage sector and give organisations, of all shapes and sizes, an opportunity to learn how to thrive in an increasingly digital world.

‘Heritage organisations are diverse, with widely varying needs – locations, sizes and levels of digital maturity – and our activities aim to reflect that.

‘So, not only are we inviting organisations to learn more about the low cost and impactful, ways to bring heritage to more people, we’re also investing in senior leaders across the sector to use digital methods to help deliver their organisational missions.’

• The executive-focused ‘Leading the Sector’ course opens for applications today and organisations can apply until 16 March 2020.

• Digital Confidence Fund applications are open today (Monday 10 February) and organisations in eligible areas can apply until 6 April 2020.

• The Digital Skills for Heritage initiative work will be rolling out through 2020 and continue into 2021. The National Lottery Heritage Fund will be posting news on its website and social channels as the training becomes available.