UK Heritage Pulse
A collaborative research project for the heritage sector
UK Heritage Pulse is a collaborative data and insight project for the UK’s heritage sector, created by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Historic England.
By taking part, you'll be joining a community of thousands at the heart of the sector to help shape strategy and inform the recovery and reinvention of the heritage sector following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The current survey covers organisations receiving local authority funding for heritage and nature.
Visit UK Heritage Pulse to register, to see the full results, take part in future surveys and participate in quickfire polls on live topics for our sector
Latest findings
4 in 5 heritage organisations say they are currently facing budget pressures
In January 2024, UK Heritage Pulse panel members responded to a survey which asked whether their organisation is currently experiencing costs or budget pressures.
- 78% of heritage organisations say they are currently facing budget pressures. The factors impacting most organisations are: energy/utility costs (selected by 54% of organisations that are facing budget pressures), supplier prices (52%), maintenance and repairs (43%), insurance (38%) and payroll increases (36%)
- Of those experiencing budget pressures, 62% believe the situation will get worse in the next year. Just over half (51%) believe that budget pressure they’re facing 'will get a little worse', while 12% of those believe it 'will get a lot worse'. Just 8% agree that their situation will ease
Skills and the heritage sector
In November 2023, UK Heritage Pulse panel members responded to a survey which focused on skills in the heritage sector. Respondents were asked about their own skills and levels of confidence in their roles, where they felt there were skills gaps or shortages in their organisations and across the sector, and to what extent heritage organisations are investing in skills.
Summary of the findings:
- 3 in 4 respondents feel they have the skills needed to perform well in their role
- A majority feel that their organisation supports skills development and report slight increases in time and money spent in this area
- Some skills shortages have been identified in digital, marketing and fundraising, as well as leadership and specialist heritage skills
- Skills related to climate adaptation and digital are likely to become more important in the next 5 to 10 years
- Training grants and funding are seen as the most effective intervention to support skills development
Find out more and take part
Visit the UK Heritage Pulse site to register to see the full results, take part in future surveys and participate in webinars and quickfire polls on live topics for our sector.
Join the Heritage Pulse panel
The information you share through our quarterly UK Heritage Pulse surveys will:
- Contribute to making the case for continued investment in heritage
- Influence our work and ensure that what we do, and the decisions we make, are relevant and beneficial to all our sector partners
- Help us speak up for heritage and its vital importance for places, people and communities across the UK
In return, you will:
- Receive updates with actionable insights that you can use in your organisation
- Be invited to join in webinars to discuss the results around topics such as resilience during COVID-19 recovery, financial health, diversity and inclusion, and public engagement
In partnership with
