Author: IT Team

  • Finding up-to-date policies and forms on the Intranet

    Finding up-to-date policies and forms on the Intranet

    We’d like to remind colleagues how to access the most up-to-date policies and forms.

    • Go to Useful Documents in the main menu.

    • Select the area relevant to you (casual, hourly, salaried, volunteers, or management).

    • Within each area, you’ll find documents organised by category, all of these are kept up to date.

    In addition, under Useful Documents – Management (at the bottom of the page), you can also access:

    • Storytelling notes.

    • Brand guidelines.

    • Inclusive storytelling language guide.

    • Directory of Museum buildings.

    • Our Bostin’ Promise policy.

    Please note: we don’t recommend using the search bar in the top-right corner to look for policies, as this may bring up old intranet articles from previous years. The correct way to find current documents is through the Useful Documents section, as outlined above.

  • Sunday 7 September, 3pm – Emergency Alert Test

    Sunday 7 September, 3pm – Emergency Alert Test

    The Government will be testing the Emergency Alerts system this Sunday, and your phone is likely to make a loud noise even if it’s on silent. If you are working in a visitor facing role on Sunday, please be mindful of this if you need to have your phone with you in your station.

    What is the Emergency Alerts test?

    On Sunday 7 September 2025 at 3pm, the government will carry out a national test of the Emergency Alerts system. This means most mobile phones and tablets across the UK will receive a test message, accompanied by a loud siren-like sound and vibration that will last for about 10 seconds.

    The message you receive will clearly state that this is a test and that no action is required on your part. The alert will come through even if your device is set to silent mode, which is an important feature of the system designed to ensure people receive warnings in genuine emergencies.

    To find out more about the test, please visit the Government website.

  • 🎉 BCLM Big Bostin’ Thank you! – save the date!

    🎉 BCLM Big Bostin’ Thank you! – save the date!

    We’re excited to invite you to the BCLM Big Bostin’ Thank You on Tuesday 14 October 2025. It promises to be a brilliant evening of fun, food, and friendly competition!

    📅 Date & Time: Tuesday 14 October 2025, 6.30–9.30pm
    📍 Location: Across the Museum site
    ✅ RSVP by: Monday 6 October 2025 via: Big Bostin Thank You – RSVP
    ✉️ More info: Contact [email protected]

    What’s Happening?

    🍹 Welcome drinks with leadership.

    Join us at 6.30pm for a free welcome drink and a short thank you from our leadership team. You’ll also sign in and receive your food and raffle vouchers.

    🌭 Food at Hobbs’ Courtyard Huts.
    When you RSVP, you’ll be able to select your preferred food option and let us know about any dietary requirements, choose between:

    • Hot dog & chips (vegan & GF option available)

    🍺 Drinks at Hobbs’ Courtyard Huts.
    Additional drinks will be available to purchase (card payments only).

    🎡 Unlimited fun fair rides.
    Enjoy free and unlimited access to the fun fair rides and stalls all evening!

    🎤 Open mic at the Halesowen and Hasbury Co-Op. 
    Calling all performers! We’re hosting an open mic night and would love to see your talents – whether it’s singing, spoken word, or something else. Sign up with [email protected] to take part.

    🎟 Raffle
    Every colleague attending will receive a raffle ticket along with their food voucher at sign-in, giving you the chance to win a fantastic hamper!

    📸 Photo Booth in Hut 14
    Grab your colleagues and make some memories!

    🎲 Tabletop games in the Elephant & Castle Pub 
    Relax and play with a variety of classic games, including Uno, cards, Buckaroo, Kerplunk, Twister, Snakes & Ladders and many more.

  • People News – August 2025

    People News – August 2025

    Starters

    In August, we were delighted to welcome several new colleagues, including a new Admissions Team Member and several Enterprise Team Members

    If you see our new colleagues on site, please do give them a warm welcome.

    Leavers

    In August, we said farewell to Historic Characters; Jack Price, Ajay Pall and Kamil Ali, as they moved on to new opportunities in work and education. We’re pleased to share that they all hope to return as casual staff alongside their new roles and studies.

    We also said goodbye to Owen Larkens (Enterprise Team Member), who has completed his university studies and is leaving to begin his career as a school teacher.

    In addition, Laura Marshall (Activity Coordinator) has completed her fixed-term contract, following the successful completion of her project within the Programming Team.

    We wish all our colleagues every success in their future endeavors and look forward to welcoming some of them back in the casual pool.

  • All Colleague Briefings – Q&A and September sessions

    All Colleague Briefings – Q&A and September sessions

    Thank you to everyone who joined our May ‘All Colleague Briefings’. You can now read through the Q&A from those sessions here: Colleague Briefings Q&A May 2025

    Upcoming September briefings:
    • Tuesday 9 September (in Hall 2).
    • Friday 12 September (in The Workers’ Institute).  
    • Saturday 13 September (in The Workers’ Institute).

    All the briefings will commence at 9am, finishing at 9.30am.

    • Many of you will already be scheduled by your line managers to attend one of these sessions. If you have not yet been scheduled, please contact your line manager.
    • All contracted colleagues are mandated to attend these sessions. We would also strongly urge colleagues from both our volunteer and casual community to all attend.
    • You only need to attend one of the briefing sessions.

    Can you please sign up using the following link: All Colleague Briefings September 2025

    Submitting questions in advance.
    Slips will be available for colleagues to submit questions or comments in advance.  These can be submitted anonymously, which is especially helpful for anyone unable to attend or who prefer not to speak up on the day. We will place some in break areas, but they will be available from line managers at morning briefings.
    Having Trouble Signing Up?

    If you don’t have a BCLM email address and are unable to register using the link, please let your line manager know and they will add your name for you.

  • Summer Holidays – visitors’ feedback and colleague survey

    Summer Holidays – visitors’ feedback and colleague survey

    Thank you to everyone who helped deliver our very successful Summer and Summer Lates programmes. We’ve had some amazing feedback from our visitors, and now we need to hear from you!
    Please take a few minutes to fill in the colleague survey to tell us what you think by clicking here.
    (This is only for daytime, a Summer Lates survey will also be circulated soon)
    What we did well:
     
    “First time we have visited. Loads to see and do, we ran out of time and need to come back. Absolutely loved the man who did the chain link at 12.30pm, he made it interesting for the kids and adults. He also did a very good job on the chain link. The people who you had playing the ‘holidaying couple’ were absolutely fantastic. We saw them several times, we interacted with them a couple of times and they always stayed in character, made numerous jokes, it really brightened up our day. Absolutely fantastic.”
    • 76% Excellent, 21% Good = 96% Overall Satisfaction Rating
    • 51% Excellent, 38% Good = 89% Food & Drink Satisfaction Rating
    • 56% Excellent, 26% Good = 82% Trail Leaflet Satisfaction Rating
    • 42% of visitors had their first visit this summer
     
    “The highlight of our visit was undoubtedly the staff. Every member we encountered was friendly, knowledgeable, and wonderfully patient with the barrage of questions—both serious and silly—from our three small children. Their enthusiasm really brought the experience to life for all of us. The kids would say the fun fair and the co-operative for the interactive experience they had in there”
    “Bakers shop cakes etc and the pork cobs from the butchers ere both very good.”
    What we can learn from:
     
    Some visitors criticised the state of some exhibits, with the boat dock and the steam engines being noted for their inactivity and state of disarray. Visitors chose to comment on the themes of the industrial revolution not coming through as much as they think it should. Queues for food are always a tough point to combat, with demeanour of certain staff noted as short and not solution focused, moreover the food options in the The Workers’ Institute & Café are severely limited as of yet. The other points are on the topic of the map and trail being confused for one another. It seems a lot of visitors are using their trail as a site map, and missing out on the clarity of the regular site map for key non-programme specific locations. Both should be given to visitors at the start of their day.
    Well done everyone however as this has proved to be a highly successful summer overall. Please do complete the survey and any specific questions regarding programme feedback, contact [email protected]
  • Car park safety reminder

    Car park safety reminder

    We’ve had a few recent incidents in the car park, so please take extra care when arriving and leaving.

    • Keep your speed below 10 mph at all times.

    • Be especially mindful if your shift begins after the Museum has opened to the public, as there may be children and families moving between vehicles.

    • Remember that gravel and loose tarmac can make it easier to skid.

    Thank you for helping the car park team keep both staff and visitors safe.

  • Be part of our first ever all-colleague pantomime! ✨

    Be part of our first ever all-colleague pantomime! ✨

    We’re putting on the Museum’s very first pantomime on 26 January 2026 – and we’d love you to get involved!

    After a few auditions last week, we’re now inviting everyone to come along for a relaxed group reading of the script. Whether you’ve already auditioned, thought about it, or just fancy giving it a go for the first time, this is your chance to join in.

    • Tuesday 26 August
    • 5.30pm
    • Classroom 2

    No pressure, no need to prepare – just a fun, friendly chance to read through the script together and see where you might like to take part. The script is attached so you can have a peek before we meet.

    If you’d like to come along, simply drop us an email at [email protected] to let us know.

    Come along, have a laugh, and help make this panto one to remember! 🎭

  • CCF Update

    CCF Update

    There is currently a vacancy on the Colleague Consultative Forum (CCF) within the Cleaning & Recycling constituency. As a nomination has been received, we would like to ask for any further nominations for the Cleaning & Recycling representative position.

    The closing date for nominations will be Friday 29 August 2025. Elections will be held following this date if we have multiple candidates for this role. If the candidate for nomination is unopposed, Cleaning & Recycling constituents will be invited to endorse their candidature.

    As a reminder, vacancies still remain in the following constituencies;

    • Cleaning & Recycling x 1
    • Visitor Welcome & Admissions x 1
    • Volunteers x 1

    The above vacancies will remain open and should a nomination be received, we will recommence the nomination process.

    If you would like to be considered as a CCF Representative, you will need a colleague from the same constituency as you to propose your nomination and the name of another colleague, again within the same constituency, who seconds the nomination. Unsure about which Constituency you fall under? Find out here.

    To put yourself forward, please complete and return a nomination form to the People Team (based at Hartill) either by hand, deposited in the black post box just inside the entrance to Hartill’s offices, or via email to [email protected].

  • Tabletop Games Night – Cancelled

    Tabletop Games Night – Cancelled

    The Tabletop Games Night on Thursday, 7 August, has been cancelled due to low attendance.