INTO Incubator
An international workshop on the National Trust model
Growing new trusts
The Incubator is an immersive, virtual learning experience that supports heritage organisations seeking to make strategic change. The workshop takes learning and 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 week of intensive workshops, discussion and strategic planning, participants hear from experts and discuss how to take parts of a successful model and adapt it for their own context. Participants are then supported to plan strategically for their own operations.
If your organisations fits the following criteria then you should consider applying:
- Active in the conservation of natural and/or cultural heritage.
- Interested in learning about the National Trust model and its potential in their own context.
- Ready to consider implementation of strategic change.
- Interested in engaging with a global network sharing heritage best practice.
I discovered so many unexpected similarities among other organisations, and also the barriers I had deemed peculiar to my organisation turned out not to be the case.
September 2021: Apply now
The incubator programme will run 27-29 September 2021. If you're thinking of attending the programme, please read the FAQs and then submit an application here.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the next INTO Incubator take place?
The next INTO Incubator will take place from 27 – 30 of September 2021. Applications are now open via the link above.
Who should attend the INTO Incubator?
Organisations that fit the following criteria should consider applying:
- Are active in the conservation of natural and/or cultural heritage.
- Are interested in learning about the National Trust model and its potential in their own context.
- Are ready to consider implementation of strategic change.
- Are interested in joining a global network sharing heritage best practice.
How many people may attend the programme?
As we are limited for places, we can only accept a maximum of one person from each organisation onto the programme.
Do I need to be an INTO member to apply?
The INTO Incubator is designed for organisations interested in learning more about the National Trust model. Participants do not need to be from an existing member.
What is the cost?
The programme is offered at no cost thanks to the generous support of our funders.
What is the time commitment?
The INTO Incubator runs in active online sessions from 12:00 – 14:00 UK time, over four days.
There is about 2 hours of homework between each day, which can be completed on your own timezone.
How and when will participants be selected?
We will select a maximum of 22 participants from organisations that apply. We will prioritise organisations that demonstrate in their application form that they have a lot to gain from the programme and are ready to implement strategic change as a result of it.
We aim to let participants know if they have been successful by the end of August, with some notifications in advance of this deadline.
I've registered interest, should I apply now?
If you have already registered interest, please complete an application form so that we can consider you alongside the other potential participants?
What happens afterwards?
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.
Incubator resources
From Start Up to Sustainability
Read our handbook for heritage trusts, full of inspiration for how your organisations might learn from the INTO network.
The 2021 Incubator programme
Our Incubator will again be delivered digitally due to the coronavirus pandemic. Read the programme here.
The 2020 pilot
In 2020, we ran our pilot Incubator digitally with four days of interactive programming. Bringing together 18 heritage organisations from Aruba to Jordan, we explored the inner workings of the National Trust model.
We heard from INTO experts reflecting practice in the National Trust, National Trust for Canada and Herita in Belgium. It was a great opportunity to explore shared issues and find common solutions, whilst making worldwide connections in heritage.
The Incubator is 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. 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.
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.
Join INTO