Celebrating 30 years of our Corporate Membership programme
I’m delighted to be kicking off a series of blogs to mark a special milestone for the London Transport Museum. This year marks the 30th anniversary of our Corporate Membership programme, the primary platform for corporate interaction with the Museum. We have developed close relationships with the extended transport industry and set up regular opportunities for collaboration and networking amongst the membership and with senior figures in TfL.
The Corporate Membership programme has grown from modest beginnings and was originally established by Brian Staines and the London Transport Museum Friends. We started with just five corporate members back in 1991 and peaked at over 60 last year. As an educational and heritage charity, which self-generates 80% of its turnover, support from our members enables so much; it supports and funds our charitable objectives, maintains the Museum, updates the exhibitions, and invests corporate funding into the areas of greatest impact.
Since its inception, the Corporate Membership scheme has raised over £7m towards the Museum’s inspiring heritage and education work. Over the years, these have included refurbishment projects, educational provision and employability and into-work schemes in the industry.
We make this a two-way process, offering members business benefits, through networking opportunities, and invitations to the Museum’s superb thought leadership programme, Interchange, delivered in partnership with Thales and Gowling WLG. Interchange facilitates important dialogue on the future of the industry and builds upon the Museum’s role as a platform for debate and creativity. We pride ourselves on hosting the best speakers to discuss the right topic at the right time, whether smart cities, new reports, sustainable logistics, infrastructure investment, or the promotion of engineering as a career choice.
More than a series of one-offs, Interchange gathers intelligence from your events into reports. We launched our third last month, Rethinking Sustainable Cities, produced in collaboration with our members and sponsors Gowling and Thales, and content partners Jacobs and PTV. Successfully moving online at the beginning of the first lockdown in 2020, the programme has gone from strength to strength, attracting international guests and speakers, despite the absence of an early breakfast or dinner with a view of Tower Bridge!
The past year has been nothing short of extraordinary and we have been touched by the enduring support and enthusiasm from our loyal supporters since we had to close our doors a year ago. Your support has encouraged vital emergency funding for us from the Culture Recovery Fund. It has been heartening to see so many of you at our virtual events. As a thank you to our members, we are launching a Corporate Membership 30th Anniversary badge. Members will receive the badge to use as they wish to promote their support of our work and demonstrate their corporate social responsibility. The badge will feature throughout the year as we continue to mark this impressive milestone of one of the largest membership programmes in the cultural sector.
Corporate Membership began in 1991 with five founding members – Siemens, CH2M, Cubic, Bombardier and First Group – and we are delighted that some of you remain with us, while others have expanded and evolved over the years, continuing to support us on our journey to becoming the world’s leading museum of urban transport. We are proud and humbled by the continued support you give to help us bring transport to life for all generations. We will spotlight our long-term members throughout the year and highlight the achievements which would not be possible without your support.
So, thank you, stay in touch, tell us what you want from Interchange and we very much look forward to seeing you in person at Covent Garden.
