In late 2018/early 2019, The National Archives (UK) collaborated with Jisc on a research project to assess the skills, capacity, confidence, and resourcing of archive services and archives professionals in the UK to carry out activities across a number of digital delivery areas. The research showed a clear need for a range of skills development opportunities to help the sector meet the digital challenges they faced. The evidence gathered was used to develop a multi-faceted digital capacity building strategy, Plugged In, Powered Up.

One element of the strategy was an online training course offering a practical introduction to digital preservation. After a competitive tender process the Digital Preservation Coalition was selected to deliver the course on behalf of The National Archives (UK). Novice to Know-How (N2KH) was born!

Further rounds of funding, tender processes, and development have added tool demos and modules on Access to the original course, as well as an intermediate-level course on Email Preservation and a short course on developing a Digital Asset Register.