Collections Assistant

Summary

** Important notice**

In line with our redeployment policy, we’ll prioritise applications from employees who are under formal notice of redundancy.

Working in a 16th century home, you will be setting the house up in the mornings, getting it ready for visitors to explore in the afternoons. With a high level of attention to detail, you will be dusting and vacuuming the showrooms, removing cobwebs and stones and keeping an eye on the condition of our historic collection, ensuring they are looked after and keeping on top of any pest activity.

You will be working 268 hours during the contracted period.

The seat of the Benthall family for over 1000 years, Benthall Hall is a relatively modest family home based in the heart of Shropshire. Benthall is looked after by a small team of staff and volunteers and welcomes 20,000 visitors a year to come and explore the varied lives of its previous occupants. As a small team, we all chip in to help make the visitor experience as interesting as possible and help keep the presentation standards as high as would be expected in a home such as Benthall.

As a Collections Assistant at Benthall Hall, you’ll collaborate with a dedicated small team of volunteers reporting to the Site Manager. Your role involves preparing the 16th century house for public viewing on its open days, maintaining our high presentation standards, mirroring the high standards that would have been expected by the Benthall family over the centuries. You will also have the opportunity to work up close and personal with the delicate collection, monitoring their condition and tracking the environmental conditions of the rooms to ensure the longevity of the collection.

Your work schedule will be two hours each morning Saturday through to Monday during term time and Saturday through to Wednesday during local school holidays, plus Good Friday.

• nimble‑fingered, with good hand‑to‑eye skills, and happy to work from ladders or scaffold towers
• comfortable working in a flexible and adaptable way
• focused on giving great service to everyone you meet
• a team player, but also happy to work on your own initiative
• well‑organised and versatile
• willing to learn new skills.

The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
• Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
• Rental deposit loan scheme
• Season ticket loan
• EV car lease scheme (for roles that meet the salary criteria)
• Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
• Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.
• Flexible working whenever possible
• Employee assistance programme
• Free parking at most Trust places