Heritage Consultancy
Email: mick@cartmelconservation.com
Efficient use of all available resources and careful management of skilled workers and volunteers is crucial in the Heritage sector. I am experienced in managing specialist areas including site operations, staff, volunteers, specialist consultants, skilled craftspeople, events coordination and contractors. Careful management of all available resources enables projects, events and day to day management to be delivered within deadlines and budgets. I can provide a pragmatic approach and explore ways to improve efficiency and reduce costs whilst still offering excellent customer experience.
By working with you to assess your site and collection from the visitor’s perspective, I can assess realistic and practical ways to improve the overall experience from the crucial first impression to them leaving you that all-important review.
See below examples of past experience or get in touch to discuss your project or ideas.
Visitor Experience and Site Presentation
Visitor Experience is key to the resilience of museum and heritage sites. Getting it right is vital to ensure your site or collection is understood and better appreciated: getting it right enhances the perception and value of your organisation.
With experience in many different types of heritage sites including industrial mills, art galleries, historic buildings and ruins, and social history museums, I am passionate about excellent visitor experience and helping a site and collection be the best it can be. In 2014, following a period of reinterpretation and change, the site I managed won the Cumbria Small Attraction of the Year Award and a Silver Visit England Award at the 2015 National Awards.
Management of Volunteers
Volunteers are one of the best assets an organisation can have. They can be the strongest ambassadors and most committed supporters to the brand, encouraging more support by highlighting their positive experiences. Volunteers need commitment, time and support: a good volunteer policy that is well managed allows volunteers to achieve inspiring projects whilst becoming committed supporters.
I have many years’ experience working with and managing volunteers as well as personal experience of being a volunteer. Matching the skills of volunteers with work or projects in museums and heritage sites allows both parties to flourish and make a difference. A good volunteer policy can create a strong team of volunteers who integrate with existing staff and improve the day to day experience on-site, achieving targets and goals and in some areas improve the health and wellbeing of all involved.
Bespoke Project Management
Having managed numerous bespoke and unique projects from waterwheels and machinery to a cast-iron cod, I can provide hands-on project management, however unusual or intricate the project.
A recent example was the design and installation of a unique handmade wooden footbridge for a Scheduled Monument. Managing multiple stakeholders, obtaining many and varied consents, working with skilled local craftspeople and resources, this project was delivered on a very tight timescale and within budget. The completed footbridge was made from a European Larch tree that was felled; hand-worked in situ and is now less than 5 metres from where the tree grew.
See a full list of services or contact me for an informal chat about your project.
