1. Forging Links: a collaborative approach to funding for business archives in Wales Stacy Capner Business Archives Development Officer for Wales Archives and Records Council Wales

2. Introduction Archives and Records Council Wales Strategic emphasis on collaborative working over recent years No corporate archives in Wales- external funding vital to open up business archives in public services

3. Profiting from Powering the World Activities to promote the use of business archives Opened up access to ten of the most valuable un-catalogued business collections from across Wales Powering the World: Looking at Welsh Industry though Archives

4. Powering the World- outcomes

5. Powering the World- what we learnt… Funding should be suited to what you want to do Talking to people is crucial The pre-application phase is as important as application Projects may change shape throughout It’s important to ensure all partners have the ability and resources to fulfil their commitments For collaborative work, more considerations on how the funding will be channelled and the project managed

6. Steel Archives of Wales Survey work, conservation assessment to gain fuller picture of records Report to scope the potential for new avenues of research and community engagement Wales: Showing its Metal Will open up access to remaining steel collections in public services

7. Steel Archives of Wales- outcomes

8. Steel Archives of Wales- what we learnt… Delivering and building a good reputation means you become more attractive to funders Importance of other types of help e.g. hosting conferences, alternatives to monetary support, but create ‘buzz’ Take advantage of match funding Balancing public and private sector requirements can take patience Timing is crucial- look for opportunities to tie in with other events, anniversaries etc.

9. Other projects ‘Stori Traws’- the historical record of a nuclear power station Business Archives Development Officer for Wales Future: seeking more innovative funding and projects, particularly related to steel

10. Practical tips on applications Prepare well; research funders and speak to lots of people Write a list and timetable for getting everything collated on time Gain a clear idea of WHY you’re applying and how this relates to organisation’s objectives and any wider strategies Make sure the application includes a clear project plan Assess risks; show you’ve thought about how to mitigate them Consider how the project will be managed and evaluated Include letters of support from people with an interest in the outcomes of the project Have guidelines to hand to keep application on track Get someone who hasn’t been involved in the writing to read it

11. Conclusion Collaborative, all Wales, approach to business archives to gain a fuller picture of industrial legacy Importance of balancing interests of partners Requires a flexible and patient approach, setting foundation for future opportunities ‘Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much’ Helen Keller

12. Thank you. s.capner@swansea.ac.uk