Museums Development Network
Museum 2 Business (M2B)
As part of the Museum Development Network, Renaissance East Midlands are also able to officer specialist business support through the Museum 2 Business (M2B programme.
M2B will offer organisational and business support to museums; this will be specific to each museum - writing a forward plan perhaps, or developing e-commerce. This support is currently available to independent museums in the Government's Objective 2 areas of the East Midlands (this is much of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Leicester City).
M2B runs until 2008 and will assist a minimum of 25 independent musuems. The project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), MLA East Midlands and Renaissance East Midlands.
What M2B can offer eligible msuems
M2B can help you in several ways by looking at a variety of issues, including:
- Business vision and goals; developing forward plans
- Customer focus; can you attract more people to come to your museum?
- More money to do the things that you want to do; looking at income generation and selling products
- Keeping the books in order, help with finance
- Workforce fit for purpose; support in identifying skills gaps
Renaissance East Midlands are able to offer five days of specific business development support to each museum. Initially the support will be by the M2B advisor. The initial meeting will be very informal and a useful opportunity for the museum to think about how it is run, taking an overview of current operation and how the museum can develop. The follow up report and advice will be tailored to the individual needs of each museum.
Following the initial information gathering about the museum and its current position, the M2B advisor will help to diagnose gaps and needs and work with others to deliver development assistance. This will involve all the people associated with the museum from the Board of Trustees to staff and volunteers. The museums that have already benefited from the programme have found the support very useful.
For further information on the Museums Development Network and Museum2 Business you can visit Renaissance East Midland's website at www.renaissanceeastmidlands.org.uk or MLA East Midlands at www.mlaeastmidlands.org.uk
last updated: 26-02-2007 11:51