Hi, I’m Nicola

I’ve been working in the heritage sector since 2001.

My core values are at the heart of what I do, but I also know that professional skills are crucial to efficient and effective working.

As such I work hard to continually develop a toolkit of skills and knowledge – some generic, some specific to heritage – that help me to produce effective resources on time and to budget.

 
 

Recently I’ve spent some time reflecting on what makes me ‘tick’ in a professional sense and I thought I would share that with you.

 

  • Lifelong learning...

    I’ve recently realised that seeing life as a learning opportunity means I can only get better with age! I am wiser now than I was 10 years ago, and I will be wiser again in 10 years.

    I will understand more, I’ll be able to empathise more. I will have questioned and changed, all for the better.

    I embrace this attitude in my life as much as I do in my work.

  • Diving in deep...

    Aged 16 I took my first scuba dive in Plymouth Harbour! Since then I have been lucky enough to dive in some truly magical places - discovering ship wrecks and the beauty of the underwater world. I’ve always loved being underwater, diving down and down to find what lies beneath.

    These days I’m more surface based but I still embrace ‘depth’ - diving deep to build strong relationships, to understand the people we work for and with, and searching long and hard for the real treasure in knowledge. It is an analogy that I try to live by in all my work in heritage, a resource of complexity and depth like few others.

  • What keeps me coming back for more….

    Solving problems…..finding creative solutions….adapting to different needs….All these elements are fundamental to successful outcomes in my work.

    Being adaptable and flexible both in terms of how I work with people and organisations as well as coming up with creative ways to engage with different audiences is what keeps me coming back for more in the heritage sector, and helps me to keep learning and improving.

From passion to purpose…

My motivation is quite simple….helping people gain from the wonderful resource that is our cultural and natural heritage.

That may be a school class trying to deepen their understanding of a particular topic – to find empathy with strangers from the past or to understand changes over time. It may be a community group trying to uncover and understand stories from its past, or it may be a heritage organisation trying to ensure that their visitors get the most from the resource they take care of.

I find history fascinating and really believe in its potential to help us today. Stories of people and how they lived and adapted to situations is just as relevant today as any time. I want to uncover those stories and use them to help people.

If you have any ideas or any questions, then I would love to hear from you.

 

FAQs

  • How do you work with COVID?

    I have been involved with several projects during lockdown, developing digital resources or engagement with visitors. The key has been in being flexible and adapting my approach to accommodate new priorities.

  • How much do your charge?

    This really depends on the work involved and the level of input you would like. I do have daily working rates and can provide an estimate on enquiry, so please get in touch.

    An initial chat on the phone costs nothing though, so do give me a call.

  • How much time & input will you need from me?

    Whilst I have high levels of self-discipline to get the work done for you, I will need your collaboration in order to produce resources that really work for you. At the start of any project we will agree a work timetable together to ensure we have regular opportunities to check in and ensure everything stays on track.

  • Do you have the legal requirements to work with children?

    I have a Disclosure Scotland Certificate, renewed annually and hold public liability insurance to ensure my safety in working with audiences. I have lots of experience in working with children as part of school groups and informally.

  • How do we get started?

    Just drop me a line and we can have an initial chat about your needs. No commitments, no cost. If you’re happy then we can make a plan!

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Working in the Covid pandemic

The current pandemic has meant changes for everyone and I am committed to helping organisations adapt, whether that is by digitising resources and programmes or by being as flexible as possible in the timing of sessions and projects.

As a freelance worker I am committed to ensuring any work I carry out is completely safe. I carry out my own risk assessments for any on site work I do, and these will fully comply with the guidelines set down by the host organisations.

I also regularly attend the Clore Duffield Foundation Space for Learning’s Covid guidance workshops to keep abreast of changes in guidance.