In November 1994 I moved into the newly established post of Collections Services Officer at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester. The move represented a personal challenge in the transition from a traditional conservator to a conservator as collections manager. The challenge professionally was to introduce and apply preventative conservation theory and practice into an organisation that had little experience of conservation culture. Management structure, support, flexibility and commitment have been the key to developing an integrated and proactive approach to collections care and management.