People in the movies always scramble to protect a precious artifact from falling into the wrong hands. Indiana Jones might be the one beating the bad guys, but real-life art and history curators keep priceless historical items safe.
The UK’s heritage sector is a fascinating world, and museum, gallery and archive apprenticeships help you begin your career with confidence and knowledge. We’ll break down exactly what these roles involve and explore the diverse types of apprenticeships available.
The basics: What are museum, gallery and archive apprenticeships?
Museum, gallery and archive apprenticeships are sometimes grouped together as the ‘cultural and heritage’ sector. During these programmes, you’ll spend 80% of your time on the job and 20% studying. Apprenticeships are growing in popularity as an alternative pathway to university – so, what’s in it for you?
- Earn while you learn: You get paid for your work, so no student debt.
- Real-world experience: You’re not just studying, you’re actively working in the field and gaining practical skills.
- Recognised qualification: You’ll achieve a nationally recognised qualification that proves your abilities.
- Career progression: Apprenticeships can lead to dream job opportunities and further training.
You can expect to spend 1-4 years studying, depending on the programme you choose. Keep reading for a deep dive into apprenticeship levels and what they mean for you.
Types of museum, gallery and archive apprenticeships
Countryside or park ranger apprenticeship
Many heritage sites celebrate the great outdoors: think National Trust. You can maintain and protect natural environments like historical landscapes and the flora and fauna that live within them. It’s a great choice if you prefer wellies to formal attire! You’ll find relevant opportunities in this niche on the Museums Association website.
Museum curator apprenticeship
While many curatorial roles traditionally require university degrees, apprenticeships are starting to open up new pathways. This job is all about caring for collections and artefacts. You’ll be involved in cataloguing objects, researching their history and ensuring artefacts have a safe home. Apprenticeships are sparse at the London Museum, but candidates aged 14-18 can apply for virtual work experience and career insight days to get a headstart.
Art or gallery curator apprenticeships
These apprenticeships are similar to museum curatorships but with a focus on art collections and exhibitions. You’ll learn about installing exhibitions and interacting with artists to help promote special works and educate fellow art lovers. The V&A has loads of art-related apprenticeships, so keep an eye out for their vacancies on the page.
Archaeological apprenticeship
Ever seen Jurassic Park? Archaeological apprenticeships are just like the movies. You’ll work on historical sites and in museum archaeology departments to find and preserve objects from ancient times gone by. You could also look at cultural heritage conservator apprenticeships for something similar.
Archivist and records manager apprenticeship
Fascinated by ancient runes and what they mean? An archivist and records manager apprenticeship gives you a chance to preserve and catalogue historical documents and photographs for future generations. These roles might also be called ‘Libraries, Information and Archive Apprenticeships,’ FYI.
Entry requirements
Most heritage sector apprenticeships are looking for at least grade 2 in English and Maths, although grade 4 in these subjects is optimal for accessing the best opportunities.
But it’s not just about academic green ticks. Employers in museums, galleries, and archives are also really keen on your soft skills – these are the personal qualities and habits that help you work well with others and succeed in any job.
Abilities in communication, attention to detail, teamwork and problem-solving will get you far in this field. Think carefully about how to ‘prove’ these soft skills to employers. For example, did you participate in a science fair and help your team fix something that went disastrously wrong? Boom – that’s a perfect example of relevant problem-solving skills in action.
Apprenticeship levels – what they mean for museum, gallery and archive apprenticeships
UK apprenticeships are categorised as levels (2-7) based on the experience and qualifications required to apply and those you will earn at the end of the programme. The levels are as follows:
- Level 2 (intermediate) – equivalent to 5 GCSEs (grades 9 to 4)
Westminster Adult Education Service (WAES) hosts a Level 2 Customer Service Practitioner Apprenticeship – sure, it’s customer service. But it’ll get you started in the heritage sector!
The National Trust has a host of Level 2 Horticulture Apprenticeships if you’re interested in flexing your green thumb.
- Level 3 (advanced) – equivalent to 2 A-levels.
Take a look at Historic England’s Level 3 Archaeological Technician apprenticeship. Another shout is the Level 3 Libraries, Information and Archive Services (LIAS) Assistants apprenticeship at the Archives and Records Association. Similar Level 3 opportunities in libraries, cultural learning and museums are available with WAES.
- Levels 4 and 5 (higher) – equivalent to a foundation degree
There’s more from Historic England: Historic Environment Advice Assistant (Level 4), Cultural Heritage Conservation Technician (Level 4), and Heritage Construction Specialist (Level 5).
- Levels 6 and 7 (degree)
We’re name-dropping Historic England again for their variety of Level 7 apprenticeships, including Cultural Heritage Conservator, Archaeological Specialist, and Historic Environment Advisor.
The National Archives also offers a three-year Level 7 Archivist and Records Manager Apprenticeship to set you on the path to becoming a qualified archivist. You’ll find a very similar role hosted by WAES, too.
Sector spotlight
Let’s talk about the digital revolution. Digital tools offer new ways to interact with heritage education and engage younger audiences – in fact, you’ll be the perfect target audience. Some museums and galleries use augmented reality (AR) to bring exhibits to life on visitors’ phones or virtual reality (VR) to transport users to historical sites. These interactive displays help visitors deepen their understanding of history, making learning more fun.
Take the path to preserving the past with an apprenticeship
A museum, gallery or archive apprenticeship is a rewarding path that offers a blend of hands-on experience and academic learning. If a career in heritage isn’t quite what you’re looking for, browse new apprenticeships to see what else is out there.
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