We’re changing the way we conduct research. As the UK’s largest funder of heritage, we want to ensure that everything we do is grounded in the views and experience of those working in heritage.

In this crucial period for the sector, your insight is more important than ever. 

To do this, we have set up UK Heritage Pulse. Through quick online surveys you can directly tell us your views on the priorities for heritage.  

It’s been fantastic to see more than 400 organisations sign up since we launched this project just a few weeks ago. 

Listening to what you have to say

My profession might make me a little biased, but I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that research – and the data and insight it provides – is one of our most important tools at the Heritage Fund. 

There is nothing more valuable than the first-hand experience and views of those of you working at the frontline of the sector

There is nothing more valuable than the first-hand experience and views of those of you working at the frontline of the sector to help us understand what it needs and how we should direct our funding and our advocacy. 

Only you can tell us: 

• what support was most instrumental in helping your organisation survive the coronavirus crisis, and what further support you need to continue to recover and thrive again 

• how, and in what numbers, visitors are returning to heritage attractions and the measures necessary to ensure they feel safe and keep coming back 

• how social anxiety around the climate crisis and racial inequality is affecting the people you work with, the people who visit or engage with your heritage, as well as your efforts to reach new audiences 

Our quarterly UK Heritage Pulse surveys will cover all these topics and more. And what you tell us will feed directly into the development of our strategy and new funding approaches. It will also help us speak up for heritage across the UK and its vital importance for places, people and communities. 

Supporting the diversity of UK heritage

That’s why it’s important that our research panel is representative of the full breadth of heritage. 

If you manage or support any type of heritage in the UK, we want to hear from you.

Whether your organisation is small or large, whether you work with built or natural heritage, whether you preserve objects, stories or species, we want to hear from you. 

You can also help us by sharing this blog, or the link to UK Heritage Pulse, with your sector peers – that will ensure this innovative project accurately reflects and includes the diversity of the UK’s heritage. 

The impact of Heritage Pulse

We’ve designed UK Heritage Pulse to ensure that it benefits everyone involved. The views and experiences you share will be invaluable in shaping the future of heritage funding and strategy at the Heritage Fund, and our partner organisations. 

The insight from UK Heritage Pulse will inform our priorities for the rest of our Strategic Funding Framework and help us to develop our next long-term strategy too. It will mean that we have the latest evidence from the sector to hand when making funding policy decisions and advocating for the benefits of heritage. But the results will benefit your organisation, too.  

After each survey closes, you will get early access to the findings through webinars and blogs, with actionable insights you can use.  

Over the next year and beyond, we will rely on UK Heritage Pulse to capture insight into the recovery from one of the biggest upheavals in the history of our sector. 

UK Heritage Pulse will also help cut down on multiple one-off surveys. Once you register, you’ll be asked to complete a very short set of questions about your organisation. We’ll only ask you to fill in these details once. And we’ll let you know the survey topics in advance so you can decide which ones you want to participate in. The first survey will open in early 2022. 

Over the next year and beyond, we will rely on UK Heritage Pulse to capture insight into the recovery from one of the biggest upheavals in the history of our sector. 

Your view has never been more important. Together we can ensure heritage continues to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future.