Thinking Commercial, Acting Entrepreneurial: Lessons From The RAF Museum

Maggie Appleton   Maggie Appleton MBE, CEO - RAF Museum         The RAF Museum has a complex identity. We are one of the UK’s National Museums, a Non-Departmental Public Body and Arms-Length Body of government, and a charity with an associated trading company. What might surprise you is that, to survive and thrive, a commercial focus is as critical as caring for our collections and sharing them with the public. At the heart of our mission is a commitment to inspire everyone with the RAF story. The government’s policy of free access to National Museums sits well with this, but also brings challenges. Our government funding leaves an annual shortfall of around £3m. On top of that, we face capital pressures of maintaining an ageing estate of 31 buildings across 40 acres, with 55,000 square metres of indoor space - some of it dating back to 1917. Bridging this funding gap demands an entrepreneurial mindset. We rely on a blend of fundraising and commercial activitie...