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PRESS RELEASE

New national strategy will enhance workforce in museums, libraries and archives

London, 9 December 2004  -  The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) has today set out its commitment to supporting and developing the sector’s workforce over the next five years.

The Workforce Development Strategy for England covers a range of activities designed to make the sector’s workforce inclusive and representative; to enhance leadership and workforce skills; to improve learning opportunities in the workplace; and to develop robust data about the size, make-up and skills contained in the ‘knowledge’ sector.

Amongst the actions which MLA will to take to develop the workforce are:

• to identify the barriers preventing young people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds from entering the workforce and fund traineeships encouraging black and minority ethnic candidates to take up careers in museums, libraries and archives.


• to pilot a form of apprenticeships, providing new routes into the workforce. 


• to develop a new leadership and management skills programme for museums and for archives, aligned with activities already in place for libraries as part of Framework for the Future, the government’s ten-year strategy for public libraries.

MLA has committed £1.2 million to supporting workforce development during 2004/05. As part of the Strategy it will integrate workforce development actions into all of its strategic programmes and will require grant recipients to demonstrate good practice in workforce development.

MLA Chief Executive Chris Batt said: “The quality of England’s public services depends on the people who work in them.  Museums, libraries and archives staff are highly skilled, knowledgeable, motivated and engaged. But we need to do more to make sure that they are able to meet changing needs and priorities. This Strategy sets out new approaches to recruitment and training, to in-house learning and organisational development, and raises awareness of the value of the sector’s workforce.”

The Strategy has been developed in partnership with the professional associations, Regional Agencies, Devolved Administrations, central government and the sector skills organisations, and outlines clearly the role of MLA in developing the workforce of the sector that it represents.

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Notes to editors

Press enquiries
For press enquiries please contact Fiona Cameron at MLA on 020 7273 1459, email [log in to unmask]; 
A copy of the Workforce Development Strategy and the Summary can be downloaded from http://www.mla.gov.uk/information/publications/00pubs.asp

Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA)
MLA is the national development agency working for and on behalf of museums, libraries and archives, advising government on policy and priorities for the sector.  Museums, libraries and archives connect people to knowledge and information, creativity and inspiration.  MLA is leading the drive to unlock this wealth for all.  www.mla.gov.uk 

MLA Funding for Workforce Development
Of the £1.2 million committed for 2004/05, £400,000 is being funded centrally from MLA and £841,000 is being distributed through the Regional Agencies.

 
Fiona Cameron
Media and Events Manager
Museums, Libraries and Archives Council
T:  020 7273 1459
E: [log in to unmask]
W: http://www.mla.gov.uk   
 
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