We are proud to introduce the John Hughes Award, established in memory of John Hughes, former Chairman of the Board of Trustees, who sadly passed away in 2024. In a generous gesture, John included a legacy gift in his will to support the development of Museum colleagues. Following discussions with his son, Jeremy, we are pleased to launch this award in his honour.
The John Hughes Award is designed to support both personal and professional development by offering funding for a range of opportunities, including qualifications, conferences, workshops, short courses, and research trips.
The award will be available annually for a period of 5 years. Interested colleagues will be required to submit an application for consideration.
Who can apply?
The award is open to all Museum colleagues, including:
- Employees
- Casual workers
- Volunteers
To be eligible, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Have worked or volunteered at the Museum for at least 6 months.
- Employees must have successfully completed their probationary period.
- Fixed-term employees are eligible if they have completed their probation and their contract is at least 12 months in duration.
- Casual workers and volunteers must be actively engaged with the Museum at the time of applying.
Please note: If there are ongoing concerns about your performance or conduct, the Museum reserves the right to exclude your application from consideration.
Application process
Applications are open from 17 June 2026 to 15 July 2026. Before applying, please discuss your interest with your Line Manager. This is to confirm the opportunity is not a required aspect of your current role which should be funded through other means by the Museum.
Please complete a John Hughes Award Application Form and send this to [email protected]. Alternatively, you can return the application form by hand to the black post box on the ground floor of the colleague entrance to Hartills offices.
Paper copies of the application form can be obtained from the People team.
If you require support in completing your application, please contact the People team or speak to your Line Manager.
What can the award be used for?
The award is intended to support development opportunities not typically funded by the Museum. This can be for personal or professional development and does not have to be directly relevant to the role you undertake at the Museum. Examples may include;
- Gaining a new qualification
- Participating in a short course or workshop
- Attending a conference
- Conducting a research trip
- Subscribing to a professional society or organisation
- Learning a new skill
Please note the above list is not exhaustive.
There are no minimum requirements for the development opportunity to be considered, however the maximum contribution per recipient is £500. You can still apply for the award if the opportunity costs in excess of £500, however, if successful, any additional costs must be covered by you.
Selection process
All applications will be reviewed by a panel within one week of the closing date. Applicants will be notified of the outcome shortly thereafter.
Successful applicants will not be able to apply for the award the following year but may reapply in subsequent years.
If you have any questions or you would like further information, please contact the People team.
