The National Archives - Skills Bursaries

Background

The National Archives provides these bursaries to deliver Archives Unlocked, the Government’s vision for archives. The programme supports record keepers in building the skills needed for the future, with a focus on digital transformation, environmental sustainability, and diversity, equity and inclusion.

Objectives of Fund

The purpose is to support the development of skills needed for the future of the archives sector. The scheme enables access to training, career professional development, or mentoring that would not usually be available in an individual's own organisational development programmes.

Value Notes

Bursaries of up to £1,000 per person are available. For group and network applications, the award limit is £1,000 per person (e.g. a group of five archivists could bid for £5,000 to organise shared training). The programme can fund up to 100% of training costs, though applicants are strongly encouraged to contribute from their own resources.

Who Can Apply

Skills Bursaries are open to any individual working with a recognised archive collection in England or Wales. This includes employees, trustees, or volunteers.
Eligible organisations include all public sector bodies, not-for-profit organisations (including registered charities), and for-profit organisations (including business archives).

Location

England and Wales. The programme cannot fund organisations based in Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or whose collections are held outside the UK.

Restrictions

The programme will not fund:

• Core archival practice (e.g. a Master’s degree in Archives and Records Management or the Level 7 Archives and Records Manager Apprenticeship).
• Other core business, management or IT skills offered as part of organisational development programmes.
• Overheads, full cost recovery or management fees.
• Salary costs of the applicant/bursary recipient.
• Costs incurred prior to the date of any award offer.
  An individual would not usually be funded more than once in a financial year.

Eligible Expenditure

Eligible costs include training or conference attendance fees, along with any necessary travel or subsistence costs, or the cost of external trainers or consultants.

How To Apply

There is a one-stage application process, completed through an online application form (a Word document version is available to help you prepare).
Applications are assessed monthly by a panel against the criteria of Need, Impact on the archive, and Knowledge sharing.
Applications need to be received two weeks in advance of the panel meeting. The programme is open on a rolling basis from 1 April 2026.
Grants will only be paid to organisations, not to individuals directly.
Contact The National Archives for further information.