Don’t miss out on access to this vital business tool for the heritage sector

We have already seen a lot of positive activity and engagement with the DASH Survey this year from across the whole sector, including at our DASH Day and DASH Champion networking events. DASH is being used as a tool in organisations ranging from historic vessels to archaeology, and from historic houses and churches to museums.

As part of the DASH survey process, you will receive your organisation’s results within an easy-to-digest pack with supporting resources to enable you to implement simple changes.

This free service will provide you with the data and insights to make your organisation stronger. It will also generate essential data for the wider sector, painting a full picture of digital capability and need, which will help The National Heritage Lottery Fund, the Heritage Alliance and others designing training provision to understand gaps and appetite for future support.

Six DASH data activities: use your data to review and enhance digital ways of working DASH data activities

There are six FREE accompanying activities that allow heritage organisations to focus their attention on a small number of DASH questions and consider how they could improve current practice. Each activity is designed to take about 15-30 minutes.

You can:

1. Identify knowledge gaps, such as data protection and copyright
2. Audit the digital skills of your members, trustees, staff and volunteers
3. Spot blockers to effective use of digital ways of working
4. Recognise and lock important specialist digital skills into your organisation
5. Find out what digital skills your people want to develop
6. Evidence improvement (e.g. through time, for funders)

We have already heard some valuable perspectives from the heritage sector regarding the digital issues that they are facing. One of our DASH participants, Mike Lunch, a Trustee of the National Transport Trust, was so passionate about the digital divide that he wrote a blog post: ‘We run a small heritage organisation. This is what I wish we knew about how others are using digital’.

‘So how can I share the necessary digital responsibilities in a positive way, and/or find support from more people prepared to volunteer digitally? How should we plan for succession, if and when I need to leave?’

Mike Lunch, National Transport Trust

Read Mike’s blog in full here.

Sign ups to DASH have been growing throughout October from the full range of sector interests and organisations ranging from micro to large national or multi site operations. Recent DASH users include The Museum of Royal Worcester, The Woodland Trust, St Paul’s Cathedral, The National Trust for Jersey, Chartered Institute for Archaeologists and many more.

Future learning and funding

Last year the results of the 2020 survey helped funding and training bodies understand the needs of the heritage sector which resulted in DCMS investment in digital leadership, business skills and service development. By responding to the survey you will directly help to drive the capability of the sector forwards with the support and funding it needs.

One of the ways in which this survey has been used is in the design and delivery of digital advice and training through The Heritage Alliance’s Heritage Digital programme, which seeks to embed digital skills into the core of heritage organisations.

Heritage Digital, which is generously supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Digital Skills for Heritage initiative, aims to increase free digital skills training and support available to heritage organisations through bespoke training, online guides and resources to upskill the sector and build digital resilience. Find out more here.

In this digital age, we know too, that our audiences are time poor and have high expectations. With technology constantly changing and everything quickly becoming more about convenience, it is more important than ever to be prepared.

Download our free guide to help develop your digital marketing strategy.

DASH Survey Benefits

Still not convinced? Watch the participants from this year and last, talk about how the DASH survey has helped them, and learn how it can make a difference to your organisation.

Watch the participants here

The Digital Attitudes and Skills for Heritage (DASH) survey is open now until midnight on Sunday 21st November. Join the #FinalDASH now.