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Category: Museum Notices

  • Wedding photoshoot – we need your help! (updated)

    Wedding photoshoot – we need your help! (updated)

    Could you be a model for our upcoming wedding photoshoot? We need wedding guests for our photoshoot this July!

    As some of you may already know, we are keen to continue developing our venue hire offer and have been in long discussions with various teams about offering wedding reception packages here at the Museum. In the short term, this will be a package after we close for the day on an exclusive hire basis. Excitingly, we are now ready to promote our ‘Union Package’ based in the Workers’ Institute, and our ‘Link Package’ based in the Bottle & Glass Inn and get the word out to any happy new couples.

    The promotion side is where we need your help! With the help of Audience and Comms, we have planned a mock wedding reception photoshoot for Thursday 3 July from 5-8/9pm, where we will be inviting in two photographers to photograph up to three “couples” (these don’t have to be real couples!) and their ‘fake wedding guests’ in formal attire so we can promote these packages. Following casting, we will speak to our bride and groom models about costume.

    We are keen to represent our wider community as part of the shoot, so we would welcome any kinds of couples to come forward.

    Photos from this shoot will be used in promotional material by the Museum and may also be submitted to key publications such as wedding magazines as part of advertising. Participants will be required to sign consent forms expressing agreement of the use of images.

    If you would be happy to either participate as a guest or as part of a couple and are available on this date, please contact Alice as soon as possible to discuss further – either via email at [email protected] or pop to Canalside to chat to her. Nibbles and a selection of drinks will be provided during the shoot!

  • Reminder: staff parking at the rear of Car Park 2

    Reminder: staff parking at the rear of Car Park 2

    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.

  • Polite Notice – Museum Admission

    Polite Notice – Museum Admission

    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.

  • Les Millington (1946-2025)

    We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of one of our longstanding volunteers, Les Millington, who died on Wednesday 7th May.

    Les first joined the Museum in June 1995, initially as a member of the Friends of the Black Country Living Museum. Over the course of nearly 30 years, Les made a lasting contribution to the life and development of the Museum. His dedication was unwavering; he remained an active volunteer to the very end, even attending the Museum to volunteer in the weeks before he passed away.

    Many of you will remember Les as a familiar face in Pitts Cottage and the Providence Chapel, where he brought history to life as a historic character. However, in the early days of the Museum, Les also played a key role behind the scenes, helping to shape the Museum’s future. As part of the Friends, he was heavily involved in what would later become our Audience & Communications, Community Engagement, and Development teams – helping to drive forward the Museum’s growth and visibility. He continued to support these functions, which notably included attending Community Roadshows and outreach events. It wasn’t uncommon to find Les all over the country representing and promoting the Museum.

    We cannot of course mention Les without commenting on the fact that his involvement with the Museum was a partnership. His wife, Margaret, volunteered alongside him throughout those three decades. Together, they gave their time, energy, and passion to the Museum, and their joint commitment has left an impression that will be remembered with warmth, admiration, and gratitude. They also marked a special milestone this year, celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in January. Margaret remains a volunteer with us and we look forward to welcoming her back to the Historic Character and Audience & Communications teams soon.

    Les leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of service, friendship, and community spirit. His presence, we’re sure, will very much be missed by colleagues across the organisation. Our thoughts are with Margaret at this difficult time.

    Should anyone wish to send a card or message of condolence to Margaret, or wish to enquire about funeral arrangements, please speak to any member of the People Team or email [email protected].

    We understand this news may be upsetting. If you would like to talk, support is available through our Mental Health First Aiders on 07918 348919. You can also contact the EAP scheme by calling 0800 756 0861, quoting “Perkbox” and “Black Country Living Museum”.

  • All Colleague Briefing – May 2025

    All Colleague Briefing – May 2025

    As part of our continual programme of ensuring engagement and communication across the Museum’s operational and strategic activity, we will be holding briefings to update all colleagues on the Museum’s progress and the plans for 2025.
    These briefings will take place on:
    • Tuesday 20 May
    • Wednesday 21 May
    • Saturday 24 May

    All the briefings will take place in Hall 2 and 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 May 2025

    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.
    If you have any trouble signing up for the briefing because you do not have a BCLM email address, please speak to your line manager who will be able to add your name for you.
  • CCF Update

    CCF Update

    Following the conclusion of the nomination process, nominations have been received for the following constituent posts;

    • Casuals – Kit Proctor (Casual Historic Character)
    • Historic Characters – Bryce Bealey
    • Salaried – Tracy Ledward (Museum Welcome Administrator)

    As the above nominations are unopposed, in accordance with the constitution and terms of reference, constituents are invited to endorse their candidature. Constituents are therefore asked to email [email protected] by Wednesday 7 May 2025 if they have any reason to oppose the nomination of the above-named individual for their constituency.

    Vacancies remain for the following constituent posts;

    • Cleaning & Recycling
    • Visitor Welcome & Admissions
    • Volunteers

    The closing date for nominations for the above posts has been extended to Wednesday 7 May 2025.

    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) either by hand, deposited in the black post box outside the People & Culture office, or via email to [email protected].

  • FAO All Colleagues – Intranet Password Update

    FAO All Colleagues – Intranet Password Update

    FAO all colleagues,

    The password to log into our company intranet (intranet.bclm.com) has been changed. The new password is ‘CheeseCob‘ (without the quote marks).

    This password update was carried out as part of our regular security procedures to protect company resources and information. If you have any trouble accessing the intranet with the new password, please contact the IT department at either [email protected] or [email protected], for assistance.

    Thank you.

  • Perkbox Users – Exciting Update!

    Perkbox Users – Exciting Update!

    Perkbox is a special benefit offered by the Museum designed to help you save money on everyday purchases through instant access to deals and discounts from the biggest brands. Not only can Perkbox help with the rising cost of living, but with its built-in wellness hub it also provides valuable resources to support your physical and emotional wellbeing.

    Perkbox in 60 seconds, which can be found here.
    ​Perkbox Tour, which can be found here.

    We’re excited to introduce a new feature Flexi-Points!

    When you log in to Perkbox, you’ll now see your Flexi-Points in ‘My Wallet.’

     What’s great about Flexi-Points?

    ✨ Spend them on any Flexi-Perk you choose – for free!
    ✨ Save them up to use later.
    ✨ Redeem them as voucher codes, QR codes, discount links, or direct access to pre-applied discounts in online stores (varies depending on perk)

    When purchasing a discount voucher through Perkbox, you can now choose to:
    ✔️ Make an instant % saving or
    ✔️ Pay the full price for the voucher and convert your saving into Flexi-Points to spend on future Flexi-Perks.

    🚨 Important: Please note that Perkbox is a contracted employee benefit, and as spaces are limited it is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Perkbox usage will be monitored, therefore any accounts that are inactive for 3 months or more, will be deactivated.

    If you’d like to learn more, please visit Susannah Green in the People & Culture Office.

  • Colleague Consultative Forum (CCF) – Vacancies

    Colleague Consultative Forum (CCF) – Vacancies

    Due to a number of colleagues leaving the Museum over the next month, and an elected representative’s term coming to an end, there are a number of vacancies on the CCF.

    We would therefore like to invite nominations for the following constituent posts;

    • 1 x Casuals
    • 1 x Historic Characters
    • 1 x Salaried
    • 1 x Visitor Welcome & Admissions

    There also remain open positions for the following representatives;

    • 1 x Volunteers
    • 1 x Cleaning & Recycling

    (Please note that participation of volunteers on the CCF remains on a voluntary basis)

    The CCF plays a key communication and discussion role in many significant matters affecting all colleagues across the Museum. Further information on the role of the CCF can be found in the Colleague Consultative Forum Constitution Terms of Reference.

    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.

    The closing date for nominations is 21 April 2025. Elections will be held following this date if we have multiple candidates for a single role. In the event that a candidate for nomination is unopposed, their constituents will be invited to endorse their candidature.

    To put yourself forward, please complete and return a nomination form (which can be found here) to the People & Culture team (based at Canalside) either by hand, deposited in the black post box outside the People & Culture office, or via email to [email protected].

    All employees (who have successfully completed their probationary period) are eligible to apply, with the exception of the Leadership Team. Casual workers may only apply to represent the Casuals constituency and Volunteers may only apply to represent the Volunteers constituency. In the interest of ensuring a cross representation of the Museum, the 2 representatives in the Casual and Volunteer constituencies cannot be from the same team.

    As a reminder, the current CCF Representatives are:

    Constituency Representative(s)
    Salaried Elizabeth Peters *

    Lisa Bate
    Historic Characters Emily Banks

    Greg Dunn

    Matthew Robinson*
    Visitor Welcome & Admissions Lisa Edwards*
    Enterprise Lisa Evans
    Cleaning & Recycling 1 x vacancy
    Casuals David Ball*

    1 x vacancy
    Volunteers Karen Griffiths

    1 x vacancy
    *Constituent post up for nomination.

     

  • Museum restructure – consultation stage concluded and confirmed structure

    Museum restructure – consultation stage concluded and confirmed structure

    Dear Colleagues,

    We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for your patience, resilience, and unwavering commitment to the Museum since we entered a consultation process regarding restructure proposals on 3 February. The journey we’ve been on together has not been easy, but your dedication has been vital in helping us get to this point. This essential process was driven by the need to manage costs in challenging economic times, alongside a revitalised focus on enhancing visitor experience and excellence in Living History. We acknowledge that this has been a challenging period, and we want to thank each of you for your continued commitment to our visitors, your input during the process, and the consideration you’ve shown for your colleagues.

    We are now at the conclusion of the consultation period, and we are pleased to share that the updated organisation chart is now available to view. Please do study the new staffing structure carefully to appreciate the responsibilities, working relationships and dependencies within the Museum Team. If you notice a mistake, please mention it to your line-manager. Our goal throughout has been to minimise the impact on our team, but unfortunately, a limited number of roles have been made redundant, with five people having their roles confirmed as such. The contributions made by these colleagues, especially during such a difficult time, are deeply appreciated, and we are incredibly grateful for their dedication to the Museum. Over the coming weeks, some will be completing handovers, while others will continue for a period of time as they undertake distinct pieces of work. We appreciate their ongoing support during this transition.

    As we move forward to implement this new structure, which includes new roles, teams, and reporting lines, we enter a transition period. This phase will allow for a smooth and effective adjustment to the new roles and responsibilities, and your manager will be in contact with you directly to schedule the time necessary to make these changes as effective as possible. As we do that, we also commence recruitment for roles vacant in the new structure, and you can find the first of these opportunities here.

    Once again, thank you for your understanding and support as we navigate this transition. We look forward to the bright future we will build together.