A SCHEME to encourage black and minority ethnic (BME) Scots into museum jobs has been backed by National Lottery cash.

The initiative is one of three aimed at training a new generation of specialists for the heritage sector. The move comes in response to fears that the skills needed to maintain, care for and develop nationally important collections, buildings and outdoor areas are being lost, with the talent pool dwindling as older workers leave their posts.

Leaders will place a “strong focus” on those who have never considered it as a career option before.

The £1.4 million Skills for the Future programme also aims to attract people from minority communities into roles traditionally held by white Scots.

This includes the Ethnic Minority Career Museum: Next Step initiative, which will offer 16 traineeships for those from black and minority ethnic (BME) backgrounds to enter museums and other attractions, which make up an important part of the country’s vital tourism industry.

Cultural and historical sites draw millions of visitors from the rest of the UK and overseas every year.

BME communities are under-represented in the heritage sector and organisers aim to “embed greater ethnic diversity” into leading organisations.

Participants on the programme will learn conservation project management, collections handling, and learning and outreach.

Meanwhile, the outdoor Skills for Rewilding: Trees for Life scheme will take 15 people over the next few years and teach them horticulture, native woodland management and biological surveying on conservation estates.

This includes opportunities for young women to learn deer management, with leaders looking for “young, less educated, local people” to take part, as well as “older career changers”.

“Non-graduates” from areas of high unemployment will be trained in digital marketing skills through Museums Galleries Scotland, the national body for museum development.

Run in conjunction with the Princes Trust, this programme will offer 18 entry-level and four management-level places across the country including a year-long work-based programme in host museums.

Lucy Casot, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, said: “We know that our Skills for the Future programme is driving successful and lasting change. It’s providing a much-needed pool of talented people who will be the future guardians of the heritage sector ensuring that it continues to flourish.

"By pairing trainees with experts they gain access to specialist knowledge plus practical, paid, on-the-job experience. It’s simple yet highly effective but requires funding which we are delighted to provide.”

Employability and Training Minister Jamie Hepburn added: “This £1.4m investment in training opportunities is welcome as it will address skills shortages and provide a boost to Scotland’s heritage.

“This type of action is important as creating a fairer society, where there are no barriers to work and employees are skilled, valued and meet the needs of employers is key to our ambitions of building a strong and inclusive economy.”