INTO Incubator
The Incubator is an immersive learning experience that supports heritage organisations seeking to make strategic change
Growing new trusts
The Incubator programme takes inspiration from the successful National Trust model and asks how this can be adapted for international contexts.
Course content covers key areas from increasing membership to recruiting passionate volunteers. Above all, participants gain valuable insight into the pillars of growing a successful trust.
In a series of intensive workshops, discussion and strategic planning, together we discuss how to take parts of a successful operating model and adapt it for your own context.
What is happening in 2026?
After our successful collaboration with Europa Nostra and the National Trust in 2025, we’re planning a second Inclusive European Heritage Residencies in September 2026.
The Hardwick Hall residency last year invited 10 heritage practitioners to come together and discuss heritage best practices and explore the twin roles of heritage places in enriching people’s lives and restoring thriving natural environments.
There is more about the 2025 Residency here
We are about to start recruiting for this year’s programme so please keep an eye on our channels for further details.
Our 2024 INTO Islands Incubator
In May 2024, we hosted an INTO Incubator in south west England. We focussed on the way that National Trusts care for natural heritage, balancing the needs of visitation, member experience and conservation for biodiversity.
Read about the Islands Incubator here.
Applications have now closed. Future opportunities will be posted on this page, so please check back or subscribe to our newsletter.
Criteria
For the INTO Incubator we generally look for delegates that are:
- In a senior role in their organisation, responsible for managing natural heritage
- Interested in learning about the National Trust model and its potential for adaptation
- Ready to consider implementation of strategic change
- Interested in engaging with a global network sharing heritage best practice
I will take so many experiences back home to Barbados that will enhance the operations of the Barbados National Trust, including how to engage visitors and members.
Frequently Asked Questions
As programme details are released, these will be shared on this page.
Please see the details above on the 2025 programme, in collaboration with Europa Nostra
As we are limited for places, we can only accept a maximum of one person from each organisation onto the programme.
The 2025 selection will be made in collaboration with Europa Nostra
Graduates from the INTO Incubator programme are given the opportunity to access expertise and knowledge sharing via INTO, in order to further their ambitions.
Many incubator attendees have gone on to become vibrant members of the INTO family.
Please get in touch via your usual contact at INTO, or via our general inbox at info@into.org
Previous Incubators
In 2020 and 2021, we ran the Incubator digitally with four days of interactive online programming. You can find the 2021 programme in the resources section below.
In 2023, our first in-person Incubator was hosted by the National Trust (England, Wales and Northern Ireland), who welcomed leaders from four Caribbean National Trusts.
Support
These Incubator programmes were made possible thanks to the generous support of the Helen Hamlyn Trust and the 1772 Foundation.
I found the workshop very inspiring and useful in going back to basics on where we are as a Trust and the opportunities to go forward. I am glad to have been able to connect with colleagues abroad and have useful discussions in sharing our pain points and common anxieties and how to address them.
Incubator resources
Our 2023 Incubator was delivered in-person with visits to numerous National Trust sites in England and discussions with many different colleagues. Read the programme here.
Read our handbook for heritage trusts, full of inspiration for how your organisations might learn from the INTO network.
Our Incubator was delivered digitally. Read the programme here.
Want to learn more?
INTO membership offers you access to a wealth of expertise and experience from our network. Join the INTO family to become part of the global national trust movement.
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