We’d like to remind all staff that parking on the gravel area at the back of Car Park 2 is not permitted.
This notice was originally posted on 10 March, but we are still seeing vehicles parked in this area. Parking here is making it difficult for coaches to manoeuvre and park safely.
Please help us keep access clear by using the designated staff parking areas only.
Thank you for your cooperation.
When visiting the Museum as a visitor – whether for general daytime entry using complimentary tickets, or attending a ticketed event (e.g. 1960s Evening, Peaky Blinders, Halloween, etc.) – please ensure you queue and enter through the visitor entrance as normal.
We have recently been made aware of some colleagues using their BCLM pass to enter through the black pedestrian gate, that runs across the road between the Visitor Centre and Learning Centre, when attending events. While this may be done with good intentions, it creates a number of challenges:
– Health & safety: Bypassing the main entrance means we don’t have an accurate count of who is on site, which poses a potential safety risk in an emergency.
– Reporting: Accurate visitor numbers are essential for evaluating the success of our daily offer and ticketed events. Inaccurate numbers affect the data we rely on to improve future experiences.
– Visitor experience: Seeing someone use an alternate entrance can cause confusion or frustration for visitors who are being asked to queue in the normal way. This not only affects the visitor experience but can also lead to uncomfortable situations for our Admissions staff, who are then required to explain why the same “entrance” is not available to everyone.
If you or anyone in your party has a specific need that means queuing or navigating large crowds is challenging, please let the Admissions team know in advance by calling 0121 557 9643. We’ll do our best to make your entry as smooth and comfortable as possible, while still ensuring you’re checked in through the proper process.
When coming in to work or volunteer, you can continue to access the site via your usual route.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Following the recent restructure, the People and Culture team is now called the People team. They’ve also been relocated to the Hartill’s offices. To find them: go to Hartill’s, walk upstairs to the reception area, continue straight ahead, and turn left – signage will help guide you.
As part of these changes, the Leadership team has also moved. They’re now based in a different office on the opposite side of the space, directly opposite the kitchen.
The People team’s post box will remain available and is now located just inside the entrance to Hartill’s on the ground floor.
Following the nomination process, we are pleased to confirm the appointment of the following Colleague Consultative Forum (CCF) Representatives;
Bryce Bealey – Historic Character constituency
Kit Proctor – Casual constituency
Tracy Ledward – Salaried constituency
Current CCF Representatives are;
|
Representative |
Constituency |
|
Lisa Bate Tracy Ledward |
Salaried |
|
Lisa Evans |
Enterprise |
|
Bryce Bealey Emily Banks Greg Dunn |
Historic Characters |
|
Kit Proctor Mitchell Robertson |
Casuals |
|
Karen Griffiths |
Volunteers |
As a reminder, vacancies still remain in the following constituencies;
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. To put yourself forward, please complete and return a nomination form to the People & Culture team (based at Canalside office) either by hand, deposited in the black post box outside the People & Culture office, or via email to [email protected].
Dr Paul Belford retired as Chair and Trustee of the Museum Board at the end of April. Paul had served on the Board since March 2014 and took on the role of Chair in December 2020. He has stepped down to focus on his growing freelance archaeology consultancy, which now includes an increasing amount of international work. We thank Paul for his many years of thoughtful leadership and service to the Museum.
At its meeting on 24 April, the Board approved the appointment of Duncan Bedhall as Interim Chair. Duncan joined the Board in January 2018 and has chaired the Museum Enterprises Company since April 2021 — a role he will continue to hold. He is also a member of the Museum’s Financial Performance Scrutiny Committee.
The Board has engaged Saxton Bampfylde, a leading executive search and leadership consultancy, to support the recruitment of a new Chair. Their extensive networks and sector expertise will help ensure we attract a wide and diverse field of high-calibre candidates. This search is a significant strategic priority for the Museum, and several of our current and incoming Trustees will be closely involved in the process. We aim to make an appointment by the end of July.
Following an open recruitment process, we are pleased to announce that six new Trustees will join the Museum Board this year. Hasan Afzal, Dileep Marway, and Caroline Southall will begin their terms in June. Nicky Guy will join in August, and Emma Norris and Janet Chapman in October. We look forward to welcoming them and to the experience and insight they will bring. You’ll be able to learn more about our new trustees on our Board page online as they join the team.
As part of a broader commitment to transparency and engagement, the Board is also looking at ways to create more opportunities for staff to present directly at Board and Committee meetings. This will help ensure a broader range of voices are heard in strategic discussions.
Date and time:
Saturday 10 May
10am – 4.30pm
Concept:
On Monday 5 and Thursday 8 May, there’ll be a touch of VE Day celebration across the Museum site.
Mr and Mrs Vernon, in the 1940s Cast Iron House, are keen to mark the occasion by organising a street party with their neighbours—though there’s some concern they’ll have enough food to go around, with rationing still in place. They’ve heard that the Prime Minister has been in touch with the Ministry of Food to ensure there’s enough beer for all the pubs!
Also roaming the site is a soldier from the Military Police of the 116 Provost Company (Cannock). He’s been stationed in Dudley as part of one of two Midland regiments deployed in case of enemy troop landings. He’ll be enforcing military law among local Army forces and keeping a watchful eye.
We’ll also be shining a spotlight on VE Day later in the year as part of our 1940s Weekend.
We’d like to invite you to our next volunteer coffee morning.
📅 Date: Thursday 1 May
🕥 Time: 10:30am – 12pm
📍 Location: Classroom 2 (Learning Centre)
All volunteers and volunteer managers are invited to attend! There will be light refreshments (tea/coffee/water) and biscuits aplenty!
👉 Sign up: via Volunteero (https://app.volunteero.org/missions/45921/shifts) or email [email protected]
We hope to see you there!
