A Bury St Edmunds museum is hosting a special evening this week for those hoping to forge a career in the heritage industry.

Anyone with an interest in heritage is also welcome to attend the free event, Museums At Night: Future of History, which is on Friday from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at Moyse’s Hall Museum.

It has been organised by the museum’s three trainees who have been on a year-long placement with St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s heritage service and Suffolk County Council’s archaeology service since June last year.

Future of History, which also includes an exhibition of fine art by students from West Suffolk College, is free to attend, with all proceeds from a fully-licensed bar helping to set up a new young people’s Museum and Archaeology Club.

This will offer access to collections, professionals, workshops and have-a-go activities for younger history fans.

Heritage trainee Dan Clarke, 34, said: “West Suffolk is one of the best places to train in heritage in the country, with a wealth of history in every town and village and an unsurpassed level of expertise and experience in the heritage sector.

“From Moyse’s Hall addressing the medieval and beyond, to West Stow documenting the pre-historic through to the end of the Saxons, we have been privileged to be able to learn first hand how this heritage is preserved and interpreted for all generations.

“Heritage careers are notably one of the most difficult to come by, and with this in mind, we hope to have organised a unique evening offering valuable insight to the next generation of museum employees, archaeologists and even exhibitors, and for anyone else who wants to learn more about heritage work.”

Mr Clarke, and fellow heritage trainees Jack Everett, 18, and Ben Donnelly-Symes, 24, faced fierce competition to gain their places on the Heritage Lottery Funded-placement scheme, called Skills For The Digital Age, for which more than 200 people applied.

Heritage officer Alex McWhirter added: “Careers in heritage are often regarded as one of the most desirable, yet most difficult to attain. With the right help and advice, however, it is possible. We are delighted our trainees feel they would like to pass on what knowledge they have gained with us to those hoping for a future career in heritage.”

A number of senior advisers will be at the event, including heritage officers and archaeologists.