The Museum will open daily, 10am-5pm from Saturday 23 March – Sunday 3 November.
To check our 2024 opening times, please visit our website.
Author: IT Team
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Industrial Quarter – Colleague Familiarisation Sessions
While preparations for the opening of our Industrial Quarter are well underway, opening its doors to the public during Red by Night, we are offering exclusive preview sessions for our colleagues. Led by our Interpretation & Research team, these sessions will provide a first hand look at the fascinating buildings within the Industrial Quarter.
Mark your calendars for March 7th and March 14th, 2024, as we will be hosting two sessions on each date. The sessions will run for 30 minutes each, with timings at 9:00 am and 4:15 pm.
If you’re interested in joining us for a tour, please send an email to [email protected], indicating your preferred date and time slot.
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New opportunity: Animal Assistant
We are looking to increase the pool of people who support feeding the animals and occasionally to work alongside our Animal Handlers to provide exercise and care for the horse, pony, pigs and chickens on site.
For more information, including what this post would be involved in, take a look at the advert and job profile.
If you are interested in pursuing this opportunity, please send an email to Anna Pavard ([email protected]) detailing your experience and willingness to undertake this role by Monday 4 March.
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🎭 Join Us for an Enchanting Health and Wellbeing Event: Theatre Trip to the Wizard of Oz!
Immerse yourself in the magic of theatre this June with our exclusive outing to witness the timeless classic, “Wizard of Oz” at the prestigious Birmingham Hippodrome.
Date(s): Wednesday, 12th June 2024
Time: 5:15 PM (Meet Coach on BCLM Car Park 2, Departing Promptly at 5:30 PM)
Location: Birmingham Hippodrome
Cost: £35.50 (Includes Entry Ticket and Round-trip Travel to and from the Museum)To reserve your spot, simply email us at [email protected].
Please be advised: With limited availability of only 33 spaces, we encourage you to seize this opportunity and extend the invitation to your friends and family. Each participant may bring up to 3 additional guests on a first-come, first-served basis. Your reservation will be confirmed upon receipt of cash payment to a member of the Wellbeing group by 15 March 2024.
Don’t miss out on this delightful excursion filled with laughter, joy, and unforgettable memories. Reserve your seat today and let’s embark on this magical journey together! 🌈✨
Warning; This production contains repetitive flashing lights and visual effects, high frequency strobe lighting, pyrotechnics, smoke and haze, loud sound effects and scenes of mild peril.
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People News – February 2024
Welcomes
A warm welcome to Aitana Ramos, who has joined the Museum this month. Aitana is supporting the Audience & Communications Team as Communications Assistant.
Please make sure to say hello if you see Aitana on-site.
Farewells
Earlier this month we bid a very sad farewell to Scott Carson. Scott joined the Museum Engagement Operations Team in 2021 as one of four team managers supporting our Historic Characters. Scott’s decision to leave was motivated by a change of direction in his career, and he is joining the Police Force. We wish him every success in this vital public service role.
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Guidance for Progress Discussions
Progress Discussions are the Museum’s formal process of giving and receiving feedback with regards to the contribution each one of us makes in our role. What does this mean for you?
- For salaried roles in particular, Progress Discussions also include the process of setting clear objectives going forward. All Salaried teams should have ‘Team’ objectives and individual objectives should be aligned to these. Many of your functional leads will be in the process of setting team objectives, or may already have done so. You should therefore expect clarity on your individual objectives between now and the end of March (or by the end of April for those teams heavily impacted by the opening of the Industrial the Industrial Quarter). Click here for more information regarding the timelines, contents and expectations of Progress discussion for salaried colleagues. Please liaise with your line manager in your next 1-1 to agree timelines for your objectives to be set. You should expect 4 Progress Discussions over a calendar year:
1) By the end of March
2) June.
3) September.
4) December.
- For hourly paid, contracted employees, we are in the process for launching and communicating the format of Progress Discussions to Line Managers of these teams. Towards the end of March, expect to be communicated regarding the application of Progress Discussions for hourly paid contracted roles. Besides the casual opportunities for feedback and support, all contracted employees should have formal and recorded meetings to discuss expectations of your role and developmental needs, including a Wellness Plan, to support your ability to deliver an excellent visitor experience.
For further information, please click on the Guidance for Colleagues.
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Ticket Swap 2024
Some good news!
We are delighted to confirm that not only has the ticket swap returned, but we have also successfully added Chester Zoo, Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Bear Gryl’s Adventure, Edgbaston Park Hotel and Winterbourne House & Gardens to our list of partners!
And what’s more… Blenheim Palace and Warwick Castle are back!
For new colleagues, the ticket swap scheme is an annual ballot to obtain free tickets for one of the attractions listed below.
We have tickets available for (family ticket or equivalent):
- Dudley Zoo
- Sea Life Centre
- LEGOLAND Discovery Centre
- West Midlands Safari Park
- Hoo Zoo
- National Space Centre
- Kenilworth Castle
- Twycross Zoo
- Think Tank
- Silverstone Museum
- Dudley Canal Trust
- Crich Tramway Village
- Blenheim Palace
- Warwick Castle
- Bear Gryl’s Adventure
- Shakespeare’s Birthplace
- Chester Zoo
- Winterbourne House & Gardens
- Edgbaston Park Hotel (Afternoon Tea for Two)
How?
Ballot slips are available from The Guide Hut, in communal areas and from the People & Culture Team.
You can also download and print (or return by email) ballot tickets via this link Ticket Swap Ballot Slip 2024
Please return ballot slips to the black post box located outside of the People & Culture Office no later than Friday 23rd February by 4pm.
Any ballot slips received after this time will not be included.
If you have any questions, please email [email protected]
Thank you.
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Annual Leave Information
Annual Leave Buy & Sell Scheme
We are pleased to confirm that employees are now able to submit a request under the Annual Leave Buy & Sell Scheme for the 2024/2025 leave year.
Employees who wish to make a request must familiarise themselves with the Museum’s Buying & Selling Annual Leave Scheme and complete a Buying & Selling Annual Leave Form which can be found within the document. Requests under the scheme will require approval from the employee’s line manager and the People & Culture team.
Please note the maximum amount of annual leave an employee may buy or sell is the equivalent of one contractual week, however, the total holiday entitlement inclusive of any carry over or purchase of holiday cannot exceed 38 days for full time employees or the equivalent for part time employees.
If the request to buy or sell annual leave is approved, employees will be notified of the resulting change in their monthly salary. Adjustments in pay as a result of the scheme will commence from April, for a period of 12 months.Requests must be received by the People & Culture team by no later than Friday 8 March 2024.
Requests to Carry Over Annual Leave
As a reminder, ordinarily untaken leave cannot be carried forward into the next leave year and will be lost. However, in exceptional circumstances a maximum of one contractual week may be carried over from one holiday year to the next. Please note that the total holiday entitlement inclusive of carry over (if approved) cannot exceed 38 days for full time employees or the equivalent for part time employees.Approval must be sought from an employee’s line manager and the People & Culture team if an employee wishes to carry forward any annual leave into the next leave year. Employees should complete a Carry Over of Annual Leave Request Form.
All requests for carry over of annual leave need to be submitted 4 weeks prior to the end of the leave year.If a request to carry over annual leave is approved, employees will be notified of this through the return of the Carry Over of Annual Leave Request Form with signed acceptance.
Please refer to the Museum’s Annual Leave Policy for further information.
Annual Leave Entitlement on Systems
As a reminder, annual leave entitlement for the 2024/2025 leave year will be 33 days (or equivalent pro rata for part time employees). Annual leave entitlements will be updated on Myhrtoolkit and Planday in April once all requests for the above have been received and processed.
If you have any queries in relation to the above please contact the People & Culture team ([email protected]). -
Wellbeing Group – Calendar of Events
BCLMs Health & Wellbeing Group’s mission is to foster a nurturing and inclusive space within the Museum that promotes physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing for all colleagues. We aim to cultivate a sense of community and inspire positive lifestyle choices by offering a diverse range of engaging activities, educational programmes, and resources that empower colleagues to support their general health & happiness.
We have created a calendar of events for the next 12 months.
We hope that all colleagues enjoy what we have planned and get involved this year.
DateTimeEventVenueFriday 27 September8.30amCancer Coffee MorningLC Classroom 1Sunday 9 October10amSponsored WalkBirminghamWednesday 16 October5pmMovie NightHall 2Wednesday 6 November9amBookworms meetingLC Classroom 1Thursday 21 November5pmDominoes, cards, GamesElephant & CastleWednesday 27 November9amBookworms meetingLC Classroom 1Monday 2 December5pmXmas QuizElephant & CastleWednesday 11 December9amBookworms meetingLC Classroom 1To sign up to any of the events please email; [email protected]
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Calling all samba fans!
Join us every Wednesday from 1 May for an energetic session of Samba Drums, our latest activity from the Health & Wellbeing Group.
Dates:
- Wednesday 1 May
- Wednesday 8 May
- Wednesday 15 May-cancelled due to filming
- Wednesday 22 May
- Wednesday 29 May
Time: 5.15-6.15pm
Location: Café Black Country in the Visitor Centre
To sign up, please email [email protected]