Creating a safe and trusted environment
In 2017 we undertook an independent review of our training courses.
These courses were delivered to local authority officers and those
with a heritage, planning or environmental role. We wanted a way of
keeping contact with course participants – to help them “reach back”
and stay in touch and set up a new group.
Initially colleagues were reluctant and nervous about posting in the
main training group. We needed more discreet groups – a trusted and
safer environment for only those participants who were on the same
course. This led to us needing more groups to support our different
training areas. So, in early 2018 we created the Heritage Workspace
digital network on Knowledge Hub to support the delivery of all our
training courses.
The platform provided a good fit with our local authority audience
and central government advisors on heritage matters.
Business integration and building a ‘sales’ pitch
We did a lot of reading around the subject of online community
management including Knowledge Hub guidance. We used this learning to
help build an internal ‘sales’ pitch for our network offer.
Our approach was also heavily influenced by community management
expert, Richard Millington’s ‘Buzzing Communities’ book. This talked
about the social sciences to online community management and the
importance of integrating online groups into existing functions. This
provided a deeper academic learning about why people engage in online
communities and their motivation. We deliberately tried to follow this
and make sure our groups integrated to fit our need.
“The platform provided a good fit with our
local authority audience and central government advisors. The fact
that I can talk to someone on the phone for support is a big selling point.”
Business integration is important – making sure it’s built into the
strategy of the organisation. Our internal pitches to members of staff
focused on what motivates colleagues and senior managers. This helped
to present the research and underpins the science behind it. It’s been
a big culture shift – and can be perceived as “another thing to do”.
It was a slow burn but what really helped to make it work was our
pitch to colleagues and a lot of internal promotion.
Developing an active and engaging digital network
The network is branded to make it look like a Historic England
product, using our logo, corporate colour scheme and Twitter feed. The
network was mentioned in a few key places and built into our thinking
and our written strategy for the Heritage Workspace. Using the fact
that Historic England has a lead role as an influencer also helped as
a useful way of working.
What’s working well is the ability to set up new groups quickly –
it’s a great help when supporting projects, e.g. the work we are doing
with the Bid Research Council. Monitoring the Google Analytics for
groups has helped to show colleagues the activity and early measures
of success have increased interest.
“…we’re seeing cost savings, increased
productivity while reducing our carbon footprint.”
The strategic development of a network requires a lot of resource
internally and has been heavily reliant on me as the go-to person.
Although this was a difficult time, as we were going through an
organisation restructure, I have developed my personal learning
through working with people to help persuade them on their terms and
identify how the network could help them.
The levels of KHub support options available is helpful too – the
KHub team, video walkthroughs and user guides. The fact that I can
talk to someone on the phone for support is a big selling point. The
technology is only part of the solution, it’s the support that really helps.
“Monitoring the Google Analytics for
groups has helped to show colleagues the activity and early measures
of success have increased interest.”
Growing the network and efficiency gains
Through use of our training groups on the Knowledge Hub platform, we
identified other groups across the platform that were relevant to our
work. This helped to attract membership from other groups who would
benefit from joining our network and groups, e.g. the Aerial and
Investigation Mapping group.
We invited fellow KHub facilitator, Barrie Minney, lead facilitator
of the LACEF group, to join us at our staff conference this year.
Barrie shared his KHub online facilitation experiences and this helped
to demonstrate Knowledge Hub as a well-established and familiar
platform to local authorities – our audience.
Now with over 25 groups and 400+ members, there’s still room to
expand and we’re seeing cost savings, increased productivity while
reducing our carbon footprint. We’re developing specialist skills in
knowledge sharing, we’re regularly in the monthly top 150 groups on
Knowledge Hub, and we have made plans for future groups.
“Business integration is important –
making sure it’s built into the strategy of the organisation.”
Find out more about the Heritage Workspace on
Knowledge Hub.