Brief for a Consultancy to undertake a Collections Review and Significance Assessment of the Natural Sciences Collections in the care of South West Heritage Trust.

South West Heritage Trust (SWHT) is responsible for the management of significant Natural Sciences collections, which include items of local, regional and national significance. The collections contain forty thousand rock, mineral and fossil specimens and 18,000 specimens of Ice Age mammals, representing the most significant Late Pleistocene assemblage in southern England. The biology collection consists of around 240,000 local reference specimens including a scientifically important herbarium. These collections have been highlighted as strategically important in the Trust’s ambitions to increase audience engagement and tell relevant stories. We are seeking to develop a project to help us unlock the potential of these important collections and ensure their future care.
This collections review will be the first step in our journey to increase audience engagement with this significant collection.

Tender responses to be submitted by email to amal.khreisheh@swheritage.org.uk by 9:00 AM on Monday 29 September 2025.
Interviews (if required) will take place on Tuesday 7 October 2025.
Start date is expected to be October 2025.

Fee

The fee available for this assignment is up to £6,950.00, inclusive of expenses and VAT (if applicable). Payment terms to be staged payments in arrears. Schedule to be agreed with the successful tenderer.

How to apply
If you are interested in undertaking this contract, please submit an expression of interest in the following form:

  • A proposal of no more than two sides of A4 setting out how you would undertake this contract and a separate costed breakdown of the budget by activity, detailing the number of days and including your day rate.

  • Details of the consultant(s) who will work on the project and their CV(s), highlighting any relevant skills, experience or knowledge.

  • The names and contact details of two referees.

  • Proof of public liability and professional indemnity insurance.

Full details of the brief in the link below

Natural Sciences Collections Review Brief