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Category: Key update

  • Our brand-new website is now live!

    Our brand-new website is now live!

    We are now entering the final stages of launching our new ticketing system and website. We’d like to thank everyone for your contributions and patience while we’ve been working hard behind the scenes to move. Our brand new website is now live, and our ticketing system will be following on Wednesday of this week.

    • Tickets for museum admission are currently not available to book. We aim to make tickets available for museum admission and special evening events from tomorrow (Wednesday 21 January).
    • Tickets for Peaky Blinders Night on Saturday 14 March and Red By Night on Saturday 21 March are available via our website. While we move to our new system, tickets for these events will be unavailable between 10am – 12pm tomorrow (Wednesday 21 January). For colleague tickets please speak to our Ticketing team directly (located in Canalside offices, to the left behind the glass partition).

    The following special evening events will go on sale on Wednesday 21 January:

      • 1960s Evening
      • 1940s Evening
      • Peaky Blinders Nights (September and November)
      • Halloween Nights
      • Festival of Light
      • Glad Tidings

    Tickets for Santa Hunts will not be available yet, and will go on sale later this year. 

    Please do take a look at the brand-new bclm.com – if you spot any errors, spelling mistakes or broken buttons, please do let the team know via [email protected] or come and see the Comms team in canalside offices.

  • Underground Mine – Essential Maintenance

    Underground Mine – Essential Maintenance

    Following routine site-wide testing, we have discovered that some essential maintenance is required in the Underground Mine. For the health and safety of our colleagues and visitors, it is important that this work is completed promptly which means that the experience will remain closed for the time being while work is carried out.

    We will be providing updates as and when we have them. If you have any questions please do share them with your line manager.

  • Dog Trial – extension until February Half Term

    Dog Trial – extension until February Half Term

    Following the launch of our dog days trial in November, we will soon be reviewing the range of feedback and data that we have received which will inform our decision about future dog days. This includes feedback from colleagues, operational observations and feedback from visitors both on site and via online channels.

    We will be extending the current trial until Thursday 12 February. This will give us time to review the data thoroughly, as well as collect more data and feedback, to help us make a decision about next steps.

    Please note that this is an extension of the current trial and not an implementation of a permanent decision. We want to ensure that the trial has been as complete as possible to ensure we are making an informed judgement about how to proceed.

    Additional dog dates will be on:

    • Sunday 25 January
    • Thursday 29 January
    • Sunday 1 February
    • Thursday 5 February
    • Sunday 8 February
    • Thursday 12 February
  • January Reset 2026 Brochure

    January Reset 2026 Brochure

    With Storm Goretti now behind us, we’re pleased to confirm that, this week, January Reset 2026 is going ahead as planned.

    Our ‘All Colleague Core Days’ are taking place on Tuesday 13, Tuesday 20, and Thursday 22 January 2026. Join us for an All Colleague Briefing led by Andrew Lovett OBE (Chief Executive), followed by Strategic Directions and Action Planning sessions delivered by the Leadership Team and Heads of Teams. We are also delighted to welcome a series of guest speakers, as well as West Midlands Police who will be delivering ACT Awareness training, on each of the Core Days. We will conclude the day with a session about the Bostin Promise, led by Heads of Teams.

    A range of other training opportunities, including essential training sessions for colleagues in visitor-facing roles, have also been programmed across the January Reset period.

    Many of you will have already been booked onto sessions by your line manager. If you are unsure which training you are signed up for, or have not yet been scheduled for any training, please contact your line manager directly.

    Full details, including locations and the full timetable, are available in the January Reset event brochure.

  • Important information – Museum weather plans Thursday 8th and Friday 9th January

    Important information – Museum weather plans Thursday 8th and Friday 9th January

    Thursday 8 January – Museum OPEN

    The Museum will be open to all colleagues as normal. We are aware of deteriorating weather towards the end of the day, with a yellow warning of snow starting at 5pm. The weather forecast will be monitored carefully throughout today, and the decision will be taken to close early for all colleagues should it become necessary. If this is the case affected colleagues unable to continue working at home will be receive their full pay for the remainder of their shift, with these hours being offset according to the Museum’s Closure Policy.

    Any colleague’s individual working-from-home arrangements for today should have been discussed with their line manager as routine.

    What about the Historic Character training on Thursday 8 January?

    Colleagues should have attended today’s training as scheduled at 9am. The afternoon session of this training is being re-scheduled to Monday 19 January. Colleagues will be paid for their full day’s shift, with the paid afternoon hours offset towards the re-scheduled Monday 19 January session.

    Friday 9 January – Museum CLOSED

    Due to an overnight amber weather warning of snow leading into Friday, the decision has been taken to close the Museum entirely on Friday 9th January. No colleagues are to attend the Museum on Friday 9th January, except for a handful of individuals that will be communicated with directly.

    What does it mean for my shift when the Museum is closed on Friday?

    • Salaried staff with the means to work from home should do so.
    • Contracted or hourly-paid staff may have their shifts moved to the following week where possible or be offered annual leave. If neither is possible, you will either:
      • Be paid and make up the hours later (for example, during training or work), or
      • Have the shifts processed as unpaid leave.

    Please speak with your manager to agree how this will be processed.

    • Casual colleagues will have their shifts cancelled. As per the terms of casual agreements for shift cancellations with over 24 hours’ notice, these cancelled shifts will be unpaid.

    Should anything change regarding today, based on updated to weather, further communication will be issued.

    Thank you.

    The Museum Team.

  • Museum access: Tuesday 6 January

    Museum access: Tuesday 6 January

    With sub-zero temperatures forecast overnight again tonight, we will be continuing our recommendation that any non-essential colleagues should work from home where possible tomorrow (Tuesday 6 January).

    For anyone that needs to be at the Museum to carry out their work, please take extra care when walking through site. Stick to gritted paths only. It is not currently advisable to walk along roads around the Museum. Teams have prioritised gritting pathways to key locations at the Museum. As best as you are able, please remain in one place for the day and avoid unnecessary walking across the site.

    If you must be on site, and are able to come in later, we recommend that you make your journey after the morning rush hour. Not only will this give the Museum team more time to prepare the site, but main driving routes should also be clearer.

    The following training sessions that were scheduled for Tuesday 6 January have been postponed to Wednesday 14 January:

    • Museum Social Media
    • Volunteer Manager Training

    Anyone who was booked on to these sessions has been contacted directly. If you have any questions about training sessions please contact [email protected].

  • Robert Plant concert – join the draw to get a free ticket

    Robert Plant concert – join the draw to get a free ticket

    Following filming that took place at the Museum to promote their new album, we have been offered some tickets by Robert Plant for his Saving Grace tour at the O2 Apollo, Manchester on Monday 15 December at 7pm. We have 4 tickets available. Please send an expression of interest to [email protected] or pop into Hartill’s office and Jo will ensure your name is included in the draw. Please do this by the end of the working day on Monday 8 December.
    You will need to cover your own travel expenses.
  • Christmas 2025 payroll arrangements

    Christmas 2025 payroll arrangements

    Please note that the December pay date will be on Friday 19 December 2025.

    For hourly paid staff this will cover the four weeks from Monday 24 November to Sunday 21 December.

    January 2026 pay will be paid on Friday 23 January 2026 (one week before the last Friday in the month).

    For hourly pay staff this will cover the four weeks from Monday 22 December 2025 to Sunday 18 January 2026.

    February 2026 pay date will be Friday 27 February 2026 and there will be five weeks between the January and February pay dates.

  • Burnt Tree Junction Works Starting 10 November 2025

    Burnt Tree Junction Works Starting 10 November 2025

    From Monday 10 November 2025, essential highway improvement works will begin at Burnt Tree Junction, on the border of Dudley and Sandwell. These works form part of the Cross City Bus Improvement Scheme, which aims to improve journey times and create safer routes for pedestrians and cyclists across the West Midlands.

    What’s Happening. See more information in this leaflet. 

    – Lane closures and temporary traffic lights at the A4123 and A461 junction.
    – Works will take place in phases over nine months, continuing into summer 2026.
    – Expect changes to road layouts, bus stops, and routes during this period.

    For Motorists

    Please avoid Burnt Tree Junction where possible.
    Consider alternative routes via Tipton, Oldbury, or West Bromwich, or use the motorway for longer journeys.

    For Bus Users

    Please allow extra time and check your journey before you travel.
    Route 126 is diverted, 74 has a change to service, and 87 has a revised timetable.
    Plan your journey and allow extra time at: journeyplanner.tfwm.org.uk
    For the latest updates, please visit: www.tfwm.org.uk

    Travel Advice
    Plan ahead: Journey times may be longer than usual.

    Consider alternative routes: Avoid travelling near Burnt Tree where possible.

    Public transport: Some bus routes will be affected – 126 diverted, 74 and 87 adjusted.

    Travel outside peak hours: If possible, avoid 07am–09am and 14pm–16pm during term time.

    Cycle or walk: For short local trips, consider walking or cycling.

     

  • Dog Days – New Trial Starting Thursday 6 November

    Dog Days – New Trial Starting Thursday 6 November

    From Thursday 6 November, we will be trialling allowing visitors to bring their dogs to the Museum on Thursdays and Sundays only.

    Here’s a round up of everything you need to know:

    • The trial will cover Thursdays and Sundays from Thursday 6 November to Sunday 4 January. All other days of the week will continue to be no dogs (with the exception of Guide dogs and assistance dogs). Dogs are not permitted at events.
    • Dogs will not be permitted to enter any Museum buildings except the Visitor Centre and the Workers’ Institute Café (excluding Guide and assistance dogs – permitted to enter all buildings).
    • Amenities will be provided as follows:
      • Water bowls will be located outside the Visitor Centre (front), Drift Mine, Langer’s Army & Navy Stores (side), Workers’ Institute & Cafe (courtyard), Bottle & Glass Inn (yard)
      • Dog poo bins will be located at the following places:
        • The side of the wooden bins in the Workers’ Institute Courtyard
        • Fence at the colliery
        • Side of the wooden bin in Folkes Park
        • Front wall at Brook Entrance
    • Dogs are permitted on transport, at the conductors’ discretion, and not on seats. On double decker buses, dogs are permitted on the lower deck only.
    • School parties who have booked to visit us on Thursdays between these dates have been informed about the change.
    • Our friends at Dudley Canal and Caverns are unable to accommodate dogs on their boat trips throughout the trial (with the exception of Guide or assistance dogs).

    Following this trial, the Museum will evaluate how the trial went. Depending on the outcome, we will then consider doing another trial, making the change permanent, or moving back to a no-dogs policy.

     

    Full terms and conditions have been prepared for all visitors to follow, along with a web page which cites our “Canine Code”. This emphasises the following points clearly:

    1. Dogs must be kept on a short, non-retractable lead, supervised and under control at all times. Our admissions team will operate a free lead-swap scheme for those that turn up with an unsuitable lead.
    2. Visitors must clean up after their dog – bins are provided across the Museum.
    3. Dogs cannot enter museum buildings, except for the Visitor Centre and the Workers’ Institute Cafe.
    4. Dogs are permitted to enter the fairground but cannot go on any ride.
    5. Dogs must not enter the playing area at Folkes Park. Signage will be in place on Dog Days, given this is the only outdoor location of the Museum that dogs cannot enter.
    6. Dogs must not enter the canal or any other body of water on site.
    7. Generally, dogs are permitted on the lower levels of historic transport (not on seats) at the conductor’s discretion.

    Visitors will also be advised about the following best-practise when near the Museum’s animals:

    1. Always keep dogs on a short lead and close control when near animals.
    2. Do not approach horses with a dog when they are out on site or in their paddock.
    3. Cross the road or give wide berth if animals are near the path.

    If you are concerned about the behaviour of a dog on site, or witness any misconduct or damage caused by a dog, please inform the duty manager who will engage with the dog owner as appropriate.