The main role associated with a career in archives is an archivist.
Archivists safeguard our national, collective history, preserving crucial events and stories for all. They manage and maintain documents and other materials that have important historical and cultural significance for individuals, organisations and nations. As an archivist, a large part of your work is related to preserving information and making it accessible to everyone.
Archives include valuable historical books, papers, maps, photographs, prints, films, tapes, videos and digital records. Researchers, academics, the general public and work colleagues, are all users of archives and archivists work to improve access to collections in person and online. Think of services like Ancestry or FindMyPast., or The London Archives
Archivists’ duties may include:
• acquiring and appraising new collections
• arranging and describing records and cataloguing
• providing reference services
• preserving materials
• helping users of the archive find what they are looking for
• creating opportunities for the public to engage with the materials in the archive – eg through exhibitions, talks, online presentations, podcasts, blogs etc
There are a range of roles available, with titles that include:
• Archivist
• Digital Archivist
• Collections Assistant
• Project Archivist
• Information and Culture Officer
• Records and Archive Manager
• Head of Cultural Services
• Archive Assistant
• Digital Preservation Officer
• Archive Engagement and Volunteering Officer
Most archive services are part of larger organisations. Every local authority in the UK has a Record Office or Local Authority Archive Service and there are national archive services in all the countries of the UK and Ireland. Archives are often found in academic institutions such as Universities and Colleges as well as in museums and other heritage organisations. There will often be archives – sometimes with just one archivist managing them – in commercial organisations, charities, schools and a range of other settings.
Some experienced archivists become consultants, offering freelance services and advice.
Listen to some of our ‘Outside the Box’ podcasts to get an idea of the wide range of archives there are out there:
Perth and Kinross – sound archive
In this episode about oral history, Hannah shares with us her work on the sound collection, some early oral history techniques and technologies, questions of ethics and consent, some tips for getting started with recording, as well as a favourite recording from the archive.
Coram – voices through time – the story of care
Voices Through Time: The Story of Care is an ambitious project to digitise the earliest part of Coram’s historic archive, going all the way back to 1739 when it was established as the Foundling Hospital, the country’s first home for children whose mothers could not take care of them.
The Black Cultural Archives – the Melba Wilson Papers
Archivist and witer, Rhoda Boateng, shares the stories of Black mental health initiatives held within the Black Cultural Archives – particularly the work and legacy of Melba Wilson. The collection of Melba Wilson’s papers spans over 40 years of her work in national and regional mental health programmes, policy units and services, including grassroots and community activism alongside formal policy work and leadership. Please note this episode contains upsetting material concerning racism and mental health.
In order to become a qualified archivist you will need to either:
• Graduate from an accredited MA Archives and Records Management Course
• Complete a Level 7 Apprenticeship in Archives and Records Management*
• Gain on the job experience in an assistant of para-professional role and complete the Archives and Records Association’s Professional Registration programme
Most employers will want a qualified archivist to undertake archival work unsupervised or to lead a service. However, there are opportunities in archives that don’t require such specific qualifications for example:
• Archive Assistant
• Digital Preservation Officer
• Archive Engagement and Volunteering Officer
There may also be some roles within digital archiving and preservation where digital skills are the priority and on the job training is given for archival work.
Study at University for an MA in Archives and Records Management
The Archives and Records Association UK & Ireland accredits a number of university programmes that prepare students for a career in archives or records management. ARA-accreditation is awared to post graduate qualifications that meet ARA’s accredited criteria. Is a mark of quality that benefits students, universities, and the profession as a whole.
ARA-accredited programmes can be studied at any stage of your career, whether following a degree or mid-career study. Full-time, part-time and distance learning options are available.
The following universities offer ARA accredited MAs
• Aberystwyth University
• University College Dublin
• University of Dundee
• University of Glasgow
• University of Liverpool
• University College London
Gaining a place on one of the accredited MA courses is competitive and prior work experience or volunteering is useful in helping to gain a place.
Getting some real-life work experience is often the best way to understand what it is like to work in many professions. It will help you decide whether record-keeping is the career for you and provide valuable experience that employers and university courses look for. A good place to start is The UK National Archives’ online archive directory. Also have a look online for local heritage organisations, museums, records offices and private sector businesses. Send them an email with a CV to introduce yourself and find out what opportunities they have. Be sure to follow up with a phone call a few days later. It’s never too early to start making connections in the profession.
You can also find information about volunteering and placements on the Archives and Records Association website here: https://www.archives.org.uk/volunteering-in-the-sector
Apprenticeships
In the UK From January 2026, UK government funding for Level 7 apprenticeships, the highest level available and equivalent to a Masters degree, will no longer be available to most learners aged 22 and above. Existing apprentices will continue to receive funding until they complete their training.