Our first large-scale data gather across the sector took place in Spring 2024. Following the April Members' Forum where we shared the initial results, the final dataset is now out and has been shared as an interactive report with each of the 34 organisations who input their data. The survey results are also available to view by all ASDC members on request.
The report shines a light on the diversity of organisations we represent, the variety of funding models, the challenges in workforce and finance that we are facing, alongside the brilliant mitigations and hopeful futures shared by our membership.
The software, PowerBI, enables the data to be sliced into the type of centre (e.g. science/discovery centre, research centre, museum or outreach centre) and also view trends across different sizes of centres and regions to uncover some interesting cross-sector trends and/or differences in aspects such as funding and audience participation. This enables anyone exploring the data to benchmark against similar organisations (e.g. salary brackets or ticket pricing within science and discovery centres of a similar size and region) as well as looking across the entire sector for inspiration, ideas or future trends.
“We were very happy to find an interactive format for the report that shares the data – warts and all – directly with the membership as it is their data to own and explore their needs. This is a tool to be used for benchmarking, to get some inspiration or new ideas for ways of working, to dispel some myths about sector differences (or similarities) or simply to see how we share a number of challenges and there are some solutions to be found by plugging into the network. From ASDC’s perspective the areas highlighted as opportunities for collective action are invaluable and provide us with clear data for future direction and goal setting. Being evidence-informed is one of our core values, so we have been committed to sharing these insights as a new and excellent benefit of ASDC membership. We are also very proud of the way in which we are viewed and valued by our members.”
Shaaron Leverment, Chief Executive, ASDC
Full sector trends illustrate a positive swell in terms of increased visitors and predicted increases for the year ahead. We are an ambitious and positive sector for the future, despite there being no doubt that the financial landscape continues to be challenging. Core costs and building maintenance are highlighted as the hardest areas to find external financial support for. Our sector has had to seek new partnerships and income strands to fund their charitable objectives. Increased staff costs, followed by cost of utilities is causing the greatest pressures, alongside the challenges of maintaining ageing buildings and estates in a climate of increased income shortfalls.
This is echoed in the workforce, with fundraising and business development being the most common roles in development to diversify funding streams and access new funder partnerships.
This goes hand in hand with new roles in science development, community engagement and content producers keeping the sector up-to-date with the rapid changes in science and tech impacting everyday life. During this last year, space sciences, engineering, energy, climate and environmental sciences were the most commonly reported areas of focus for exhibits, programming and activities. For the coming year, the ambition doubles it’s focus on climate, nature, environmental sciences and green solutions, alongside STEM careers, AI, equity, diversity and inclusion in STEM and greater fusion of sciences and the arts.
Immediate challenges for members are increased costs of workforce, concerns on increased intensity of workload, difficulties in recruiting a diverse workforce and mental wellbeing in the workplace. Although these areas of concern are prevalent in the sector, members shared some of the simple benefits and programmes being developed and implemented to ease wellbeing issues in the workplace.
Community engagement (both on-site and outreach) top the polls when it comes for the aims for audience development in the coming year across the sector.
Facilities available in centres and museums that promote accessibility show the dozens of small and meaningful changes that make a big impact for inclusion for visitors and staff with special needs and disabilities. However, larger structural/capital changes are – as we know - harder to find funding for than programming, with 53% of our respondents having a changing places toilet (decreasing with size of centre) in 2024. So there is a lot more we can do! Those answering the survey also shared a large number of EDI initiatives that are working extremely well to diversify audiences who participate in STEM, and the equitable approach of the organisations across the network.
There is a wealth of data to explore in this survey and we are exceptionally grateful to all who committed the time to filling it in (if there is a next time we promise it won’t take as long!)
If you are an ASDC member who didn’t complete the survey, but would like a tour of the data, please get in touch and let us know your areas of interest or need for data and we’ll be happy to help.