Early careers
Looking to start a career in museums? Here’s our work experience programme, apprenticeships, student placements and traineeships all in one place.
We have several work-based learning programmes to help you get that first experience of what working in museums is really like.
Work experience
Are you 14-18 and thinking about working in a museum? We offer the following opportunities to find out more about museum careers:
Partnership placements
We co-create work placements working directly with local organisations and schools to engage with more diverse young people, especially those currently underrepresented in our workforce. We don’t usually offer placements outside this scheme.
Careers Insight Days
Find out about the different roles in a museum and the skills you need to work here.
Virtual work experience
Take part in live Q&As and find out what it’s like to work as a curator, conservator, learning professional and more.
Join us for a Virtual Careers Insight Day on Wed 20 Nov. This interactive session will be a chance to find out about the work of different teams in the museum, listen to staff talk about their roles and ask any questions you have.
Apprenticeships
Apprentices get the opportunity to gain workplace skills, get trained up and work towards a recognised qualification.
You must be at least 16 years old when you enrol, but there’s no upper age limit. Apprenticeships are open to those at the beginning of their career as well as anyone looking for a career change. Our apprenticeship vacancies are not dependent on the time of year.
If you have any questions about apprenticeships at the London Museum, please email: [email protected]
Traineeships
Traineeships are designed to help young people get skills and confidence for future employment.
We have a traineeship for one university student each year through the London Collection Bursary. This programme opens up roles to people who may not have considered a museum career, including those who may have faced barriers in education.
The bursary provides one student with the following:
- an annual £1,000 bursary for the duration of their undergraduate studies
- a two-month paid summer placement working within one or more departments of the museum, for each year of their undergrad studies
If you’re interested in applying for next year’s programme, please email [email protected]
Internships
Internships are a great way to build up professional skills through a fixed period of employment. They help you apply learning, build a better understanding of your chosen profession and even find a job.
We have a two-week paid placement each year through our Next Gen Creatives programme for people wanting to find out more about creative careers. It's open to people aged 18–25, living in Islington and not in education, employment or training.
Watch this space as we develop more internship opportunities.
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Staff benefits
All our staff perks including flexible working, discounts and free access to cultural institutions across the UK
Our culture & values
We want our people to feel valued, to bring their whole selves to work and to love what they do